Children will find it more difficult to buy cigarettes as vending machines(自动售货机)selling tobacco will be officially banned in England today. According to the British Heart Foundation(BHF),around 200,000 young people start smoking regularly in England each year and 11 percent of 11-to-15-year-old regular smokers in England and Wales get their cigarettes from vending machines.
Betty McBride, Director of Policy and Communications at the British Heart Foundation,said,“Thousands of children who are at risk of addiction regularly get tobacco from these machines, which of course, don’t ask them to prove their age. With the tobacco industry increasingly depending on young smokers to keep their profits,they’re fighting tooth and nail to stop any changes that might hit their bottom line.”
The ban, which makes it illegal to sell tobacco from vending machines and requires shopkeepers to ensure all tobacco advertising on the machines is removed, comes into force in England today. It is the first ban in Europe to prohibit selling cigarettes from vending machines, which shows the determination of England to fight against smoking.
Other measures to protect young people from the dangers of smoking are also on the way. In April 2013 large retailers(零售商)in England and Scotland will have to get rid of all tobacco displays and small shops will be expected to do that from April 2015.Wales and Northern Ireland also plan to make similar regulations.
The UK Government is due to begin a public consultation before the end of the year on whether to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes which would reduce their marketing appeal to young people, help to make health warnings more effective and, alongside other measures, help to reduce the number of smokers in the long term.
9.According to the text, vending machines selling cigarettes .
A. offer cheaper products B. have more varieties of products
C. don’t check buyers’ personal information D. keep a record of every purchase
10.The tobacco industry may be against the new regulation because .
A. more children will be at risk of tobacco addiction B. it will bring inconvenience to its consumers
C. young smokers will be discouraged D. many vending machines will be left unused
11.Small stores in Scotland .
A. will be banned from selling tobacco next year
B. can still present cigarettes for around 2 years
C. must get rid of all tobacco advertisements
D. must show warnings about cigarettes in 2013
12.It can be inferred from the text that .
A. plain packaging is a must for cigarettes B. the number of tobacco companies will be limited
C. tobacco’s harm to health will be put down on packages
D. opinions will be asked for plans of tobacco controlling
13.What is the best title for the text?
A. Cigarette vending machines banned. B. The youth’s addiction to tobacco.
C. UK’s efforts to improve people’s health. D. Strong opposition from tobacco industry.