BHF: New tobacco controls ‘terrific news’
Betty McBride, director of policy and communications at the British Heart Foundation, comments on the release of the government’s white paper on public health:
“It’s terrific news that the ban on tobacco vending machines will go ahead as planned next year. It shows the government is truly committed to removing an easy source of cigarettes for children and young people.
“The forthcoming tobacco control strategy is now the perfect springboard to put tobacco completely out of sight and out of mind by removing tobacco displays.
“We welcome the commitment to look at plain packaging for cigarettes but this must not become an alternative option to a display ban – we need both measures to protect children and young people from a lifetime of addiction and health problems.
“We also applaud the pledge to tackle inequalities and improve the health of the poorest, fastest. It’d be great to share ideas with ministers about our successful Hearty Lives project, which helps tackle health inequalities across the UK.”
