Young people at celebrity-packed weekend vote in favour of tobacco Bill Proposals ahead of today’s vote in Parliament

Young people from across the North West today voted to put cigarettes out of sight in shops and remove cigarette vending machines in support of proposals being voted on today in the House of Commons.

Around 100 young people aged 14 to18 came together at a celebrity-packed youth campaign weekend – Smoke & Mirrors – to expose the negative practices of the tobacco industry.

Eighty per cent of the young people voted in agreement that cigarettes should not be openly displayed in shops and almost 90% voted that cigarettes should not be available from vending machines.

These issues will form a key part of today’s vote in the House of Commons on the tobacco elements of the Health Bill, which could see an end to cigarette vending machines and the display of tobacco in shops.

Jean King, Director of Tobacco Control at Cancer Research UK, said: “Young people are the future. Politicians must listen to them and act to protect their interest by voting to put tobacco out of sight and out of mind.”

The weekend was also the culmination of a young people’s short film competition, which has been created with the support of Hollyoaks producers Matt Littler, Carley Stenson and Darren Jeffries.

Students were asked to create short film ideas that focused on getting across important messages on how cigarettes are extensively marketed to young people despite existing advertising restrictions on the tobacco industry.

Andrea Crossfield, Director of Smokefree North West, said: “It was inspirational that so many young people decided to take part in this weekend’s activities and have put so much effort into making it a success. Young people are keen to see an end to displays of cigarettes in shops and the removal of cigarette vending machines and MPs should listen to what they have to say.”

The young people came from schools and youth groups from across the region, including Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.

Other supporters on the weekend included Phil Redmond CBE, creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, Ian McCartney MP, Jean King from Cancer Research UK, Martin Dockrell, Director of Research and Policy at ASH and leading international expert on tobacco control, Professor Stan Glantz.