Charity says to keep tobacco out of children’s sight

Cancer Research UK has sent a petition to the government calling for children and young people to be protected from tobacco advertising.

The appeal by the charity is part of its Out of Sight, Out of Mind campaign, which calls on politicians to close the loophole allowing tobacco to be on show at the point of sale.

The petition, which has received 50,000 signatures, also asks for the prohibiting of tobacco being sold from vending machines, along with making plain packaging for tobacco products compulsory.

Cancer Research UK’s director of policy and public affairs Richard Davidson said: “Tobacco advertising has been banned on television, in print and on billboards.”

He continued: “Children are still regularly exposed to branding on packs and attractive tobacco displays in shops, newsagents and supermarkets.”

Mr Davidson added that removing tobacco from public view can reduce the temptation towards a potentially lethal addiction.

The campaigners will be joined by David Taylor MP, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on smoking and health, with the petition set to be delivered to public health minister Dawn Primarolo.

In other news, corner shops in the north-east will be the first in England to pilot an £800,000 scheme to encourage the eating of more fruit and vegetables, in an attempt to reduce obesity.