Undercover film exposes lax cigarette vending machine controls

23 June 2009

Two 14-year olds have shown just how easy it is easy for children to buy cigarettes in a short film specially made by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) as part of the charity's campaign to ban cigarette vending machines.

Cordell Sutherland and Casey Philip used a hidden camera to secretly record themselves buying cigarettes from machines in three different pubs just yards away from the House of Parliament.

On each occasion the children were able to buy cigarettes from the vending machines without being stopped or even challenged about their age. The legal age for buying tobacco products in the UK is 18 and pub licensees are responsible for ensuring vending machines are only used by those who are old enough. The film can be viewed online at www.bhf.org.uk/outoforder

Casey Philip said: "It was a bit nerve wracking going into the pub, I wasn't sure if they were going to say anything. But after going into one pub I thought wow this is so easy."

"I was really shocked. I was expecting someone in at least one place to say something or stop me, but they didn't."

"I don't see why we need vending machines anymore. They're really easy for children to use. There's other places you can buy cigarettes from we don't need to be selling them this way."

Cordell Sutherland said "I don't smoke so I didn't know what to expect. I didn't think it would be so easy. We should be trying to get rid of vending machines because they're too easy for children to use."

Peter Hollins, Chief Executive at the BHF, said: "We don't allow alcohol, fireworks, knives or other age restricted products to be sold from vending machines. These are only sold where there is a face to face transaction over the counter. We need to tackle this anomaly which allows children to get hold of cigarettes."

"Smoking is one of the biggest avoidable causes of disease and death in the country. Banning self-service vending machines is a simple way we can help prevent children picking up a habit which will threaten their future health."

The Health Bill, currently going through Parliament, proposes new measures to control the sale of tobacco. The Bill currently includes further restrictions on cigarette vending machines but stops short of a full ban.

Peter Hollins, added: "A complete ban is the only fail-safe way to make sure children aren't able to get cigarettes from vending machines. Half measures will not protect our children's health."

He added: "If you smoke you increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and nearly double your risk of a heart attack compared to someone who never started (1). If we stop children from ever starting to smoke then we will be helping to prevent thousands of needless deaths."

The BHF has estimated that in 2006, more than 46,000 11-15 year old regular smokers accessed their cigarettes through vending machines in England and Wales (2). Calculations by the BHF also suggest that in 2006 around 45 million cigarettes were sold to 11-15 year olds through cigarette vending machines (3). The raising of the age limit for cigarettes from 16 to 18 means there are now likely to be more underage smokers accessing cigarettes from vending machines.

---

Press releases, papers and documents published on this page are the intellectual property of an organisation unrelated to ePolitix.com. We promote their parliamentary and political campaigning activities as they are subscribers to the ePolitix.com service.

As such, ePolitix.com does not edit, endorse, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases and other such types of content are the responsibility of the originating organisation.