Tobacco company challenges cigarette vending machine ban

Wednesday February 10, 2010

Government’s decision to ban vending machines is so disproportionate that it must be challenged, says Imperial chief executive Gareth Davies

Imperial Tobacco has announced that its subsidiary cigarette vending machine company, Sinclair Collis, is seeking a judicial review of the relevant sections of the Health Act 2009 which seek to ban sales of tobacco from vending machines from October 2011.

Chief executive Gareth Davis said: “Legal action is always a last resort but the Government’s decision to ban cigarette vending machines is so disproportionate and unnecessary that it must be challenged.

“We do not want children to smoke and supported the Government’s proposal to stop underage access through the introduction of electronic ID cards, token mechanisms and remote control technology.

“These are effective solutions which have been implemented in a number of other countries and it is a matter of great regret that the UK Government ultimately chose to disregard all of these options in favour of a ban that will result in significant job losses in the vending industry.”