what brilliant idea
 

a proposal to ban cigarette machines, and the sale of 10 packs in a way to discourage children from smoking.
do u think it will?

Re: what brilliant idea
 

i would hope it would discourage kids Pam, but unfortunately i'm sure they will find another way of getting their fags :(

Re: what brilliant idea
 

It is already illegal to sell ciggys to under 18's isn't it? so maybe a clamp down on their suppliers would be better than inconveniencing 'adult' smokers, (yes, I know smoking and being adult is a misnomer, guilty as charged!:D).

Re: what brilliant idea
 

I'm not bothered about machines because the prive of them has just got scandalous, in Lava/Ignite nightclub in Burnley its £8.50 for 16!:eek:

But I hope they dont ban 10 packs, I dont seem to smoke as many with a 10 pack and only buy 20 packs when i'm going on a night out.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

i buy a small pouch of Golden Virginia once a week which costs about £2.96, and it lasts me a whole week, i only smoke 2/3 a day now, almost cheaper than buying a pack of 10

Re: what brilliant idea
 

I cannot see what difference doing away with the 10 pack will make, kids will buy 20 and share the cost between them.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

When you see the price of cigs today I'm glad I gave over 30 years ago, in those days 20 Embassy no1 were 40 pence:eek:

Re: what brilliant idea
 

Yes but in those days you could buy a terraced house for under a pound, and still have enough left over to buy a new pair of clogs with the change.:D

I really don't think it will make much difference to underage smokers.

After all there aren't machines selling alcohol and drugs, but sadly if young people want them, there is always someone willing to supply them.

I agree that there should be a bigger crack down on people selling, or supplying, cigarettes to those underage.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

The average amount of pocket money in the UK for 14-16 year olds is £5.66 a week which is still more than a pack of 20, so its going to make no difference whatsoever.

And seeing as most vending machines are in pubs, clubs etc, which kids shouldnt be in anyway, again another worthless idea

Re: what brilliant idea
 

think its just a effort to get back in favour, its absolutely pointless n will do nothing to discourage kids from smoking, all it will do is put a few more folk on the dole.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

If they are to ban cigarette machines from pubs and clubs, in order to discourage underage smokers, are they also going to take away the condom machines?

We have the highest teenage birth rate in Europe, even though there is apparently ease of access to contraception.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

hey if it wins votes, why not.;):D

Re: what brilliant idea
 

Exactly, and this could have an adverse affect. If children have to buy 20 packs they may feel the need to smoke them all, a situation where you almost feel like having them just because they are there.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

The kids will just share the cost of 20 and split them, or, the better off kids will buy them and sell them as singles at a price worse than the machines, it wont discourage smoking youngsters.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

If the government really cared about discouraging young people from smoking they could do it easily, by banning them, but of course they won't because of the billions of pounds they'd lose in taxes.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

Even banning them wouldn't make that much difference Rindi, lots of people I know who still smoke don't buy them from the shops they get them on the Black Market, and the government don't get any tax at all from them

Re: what brilliant idea
 

I don't know where you shop but I can easily buy cigarettes from five outlets within a two minute walk for where I live.

Happily I can't buy smack or weed within that same distance.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

wouldn't bet on that bud, unless someones moved or in gaol.:eek:

Re: what brilliant idea
 

I know what you're saying, but happily it's still easier to buy cigarettes than other illegal drugs.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

Rindi I wasn't saying that I was saying that a lot of people don't buy their smokes from the shops but from people selling on the Black Market, they reckon that 40% of smokers buy theirs in this way. I only hope you don't want to buy smack or weed any distance from your home:rolleyes:

Re: what brilliant idea
 

60% of legal tobacco sales still manages to raise billions of pounds for the government.;)

Re: what brilliant idea
 

Just another go at the people who smoke... think the powers that be should concentrate on those who carry knives and other weapons.... ( but that would be too much like hard work)
if kids are going to smoke then they will..

They should also do the same thing with alcohol ( like they have in the states ) you can only buy 24 bottles or whatever:

Re: what brilliant idea
 

i doubt it will work, all it will do is make more money for the cigarette companies as people will have to buy 20's.. i also smoke less when i have 10 so it will also make people smoke more...if i have 20 i will smoke 20 a day, if i have 10 then i will smoke 10 a day..

Re: what brilliant idea
 

I would have thought most of the so called vending machines were in Pubs & Clubs where Children should not have access to them:confused:

Re: what brilliant idea
 

The only way that this government will stop kids from smoking is to stop everyone from smoking.
The only way that they will be able to do that is to ban the manufacture, sale and importing of tobacco products.
That would push the industry underground and only achieve overloaded courts, overfull jails and a serious loss of revenue plus an expanded unemployment register.

In any case alcohol does far more damage to our youngsters and as a side effect creates major problems to our nursing staff than tobacco ever did.

Vehicle exhaust fumes cause more damage than tobacco smoke ever did.

All this bru ha ha is nothing more than a puerile attempt to get us arguing amongst ourselves whilst the government quietly seeks out new ways of imposing stealth taxes.

Instead of allowing ourselves to get bogged down in non-issues we should be pushing for a referendum on EU integration.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

Re: what brilliant idea
 

whats condom machines to do with baning 10 packs of fag's, we all no the birth rate gone up and i think they should bring sex education in to the primer schools sooner.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

Fat chance of getting a referendum on anything to do ith Europe JB, well not until we get rid of this government that is:(

Re: what brilliant idea
 

Garinda is saying that if cigarette machines are aiding underage smokers then condom machines are aiding underage sex. Just because we take away the machines doesn't mean that these activities will cease.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

Thank you.

As you just said, and I tried to say earlier, the principle is just the same.

This mealy-mouthed half-measure will make very little difference to those young people who are going to smoke, just as the banning of cigarettes in public places has made little difference to the number of adults who choose to smoke...though it killing off the pub trade.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

here's a though,

Manufacturers have to 'print' a serial number on all the fags in each pack. when you buy your fix you sign against that number in the shop. Any kids caught with ciggys the person who's serial number they are gets £500 fine. That should stop people 'buying them' for teh kids. also the shop who sold them has teh responsibility to show who is buying them by having CCTV. if a serial number is caught in kids possesion the shop owner has to show teh CCTV of who bought them. If it was teh kids teh shop keeper is done there and then, big fine and possible take away his ability to sell them at all.

that way you legit smokers can carry on with your habit (where they let you :D ) with no worries.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

One problem with that entwisi - what about the kids who nick their fags off their parents ... parents buy 200 fags from Asda/Tesco etc, have them in cupboard at home the kids nick 20 or just one or two out of a packet and then get caught with them, goes thro the rigmarole of it all and parents of the kid are the ones who bought them - what happens to the kid when the parents get sent down.....

Re: what brilliant idea
 

I don't think the banning of vending machines would make any difference.. the only places I know were there are vending machines are pubs, and you can't smoke in pubs anyway.
The idea to ban 10 pkts is stupid.. it's like banning half bottles of vodka.. people would simply buy a full bottle!.. now that can't help can it?

Re: what brilliant idea
 

jen, I didn''t say send them down, I said fine them. when it hurts them buying their beer/fags/food they might start discipline the kids a bit more.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

didnt they say something about smokers registering to buy cigarettes? i think that would work, you have a licence that would be scanned to buy them, that could also go together with entwisi's idea.

Re: what brilliant idea
 

OR maybe it'll encourage them to get jobs to pay for their ciggies. ;)