The Protection from Tobacco (Sales from Vending Machines)(England) Regulations 2010.
"The regulations are part of ongoing work to reduce children and young people's access to tobacco." Signed by the Health Secretary. In effect from Oct 1st 2011.
A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available from the Tobacco Programme, Department of Health, Room 712, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum.
(See link below)
The Protection from Tobacco (Sales from Vending Machines) (England) Regulations 2010 - Explanatory Memorandum
More info about current government policy and that of the former Labour Gov. on this issue can be found in the following link:
Law Guide
I am not a smoker myself-never have been, but I do not find others smoking a problem.
Whilst the sale of tobacco was always thought to be a lucrative source of Tax revenue for the UK - studies over the last 10 years have shown that the cost to the nation in health care of patients with disease related to smoking out-weighs this revenue (I read somewhere that the discrepancy is something in the tune of 6.5p per cigarette -possibly on the "ASH" site)
Obviously preventing the very young from getting hooked on cigarettes is a good policy - education should be the main weapon. The original report cited by Flashy from the BBC says that only 11% of children who regularly smoke get their cigarettes from vending machines in any case - so the new regulations won't be that effective and will not be reaching the desired target. The main effect will just be on the pubs and businesses that have them as a sideline, and of course for the adults who run out of fags at odd times of day it will just be a nuisance...