While tobacco advertising was banned in 2002, attractive tobacco displays still existed in shops. Openly displaying tobacco next to sweets and crisps that kept cigarettes front of mind for shoppers.
Vending machines were an easy way for young people to buy cigarettes, with 17% of 11–15-year-olds citing vending machines as their ‘usual source’. Research showed that by removing displays, the acceptance of smoking among young people would be reduced.
In 2008, over 50,000 campaigners signed a petition to Westminster and Scottish Parliaments calling on them to cover up tobacco displays at the point of sale and remove vending machines. Celebrity supporters Sir Richard Branson and Konnie Huq added their voices to the campaign.
Overwhelming support led to the UK Government passing new laws. In 2009, laws to remove vending machines and tobacco displays in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland were passed. The same laws were passed in Scotland in 2010.
However, after the General Election in 2010, the tobacco industry put pressure on the coalition UK Government to stop these laws from being introduced. More than 1,300 campaigners then wrote to MPs, local papers and signed a petition to make sure the laws would come in.
In March 2011, the UK Government announced its new tobacco control plan for England. Within this, they committed themselves to ‘continue to defend tobacco legislation against legal challenges by the tobacco industry, including legislation to stop tobacco sales from vending machines from October 2011’.
Finally, tobacco vending machines were gradually removed and displays are covered in shops in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland between 2012 and 2015.
Launched in 2022, we’ve campaigned for action and funding to help tackle the number one cause of cancer in the UK – smoking.
In March 2015, MPs voted in favour of plain, standard cigarette packs. This was a huge victory for public health, giving millions of children one less reason to start smoking.
We successfully campaigned for an end to smoking in workplaces and enclosed public spaces in the UK.
Cancer Research UK has sent an urgent plea to the UK Government – calling for politicians to protect children and young people from tobacco advertising – to stop tobacco taking even more lives.
Learn about the ways our campaigner community is driving political action to help beat cancer.
Join our community of over 50,000 online campaigners across the UK.
Take part in our community of over 200 volunteer Campaign Ambassadors helping to influence governments across the UK to take action on cancer and driving improvements for cancer in their local communities.
