Wales cigarette vending machine sale ban begins
A ban on cigarette vending machines has come into force in Wales to make it harder for young people to buy tobacco.
The Welsh government imposed the ban after it emerged 10% of regular smokers aged 11-15 in the UK said they bought cigarettes from the machines regularly.
Welsh trading standards officials say over half of 145 attempted test purchases with young people resulted in under-age sales from vending machines.
Businesses face fines of up to £2,500.
The ban began in England in October but the Welsh government said at the time it could not meet that deadline due to legal challenges in England affecting timings in Wales.
“Banning sales of tobacco from vending machines is a step in the right direction to reducing smoking addiction in childhood and improving the public health of our communities,” said Steve Whitehouse, chair of Wales’ heads of trading standards (WHoTS) officials.
It is estimated that there were roughly 3,000 cigarette vending machines in Wales.
