Students at Edinburgh University will tomorrow night vote on a motion that, if passed, would ban shops on campus from selling cigarettes.

 

The motion, which was submitted by a medical student ahead of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) AGM tomorrow night, also proposes banning all cigarette machines on campus.

 

EUSA Vice President James Wallace said the motion is, “the most controversial proposal debated at an AGM in a number of years.”

 

He continued, “This debate is not about money. The question that must be asked is should informed adults be made to stop buying a legal product because some students don't agree with their choice? We as a student body should discourage smoking but not impose our values under the guise of helping those students who make an informed choice."

 

The debate comes as the Scottish Parliament’s health committee this week continues its scrutiny of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services Bill, which proposes banning tobacco displays and cigarette vending machines.

 

Last week the committee took evidence from Public Health Minister Shona Robison, who thanked the committee for its “boldness” in supporting the Bill thus far, and Kenneth Gibson, convener, Cross Party Group on Tobacco Control, who introduced an amendment to the Bill that would require tobacco to be stored in a closed container out of sight or facing away from the customer, which he said closely mirrors similar legislation that was implemented in Ireland in July this year.

 

However, Robison said that in the current financial climate they must listen to the views of retailers, in particularly small retailers, and give them the flexibility to come up with solutions to comply with the legislation and meet the costs of doing so. In light of similar concerns expressed by committee members Gibson withdrew his amendment but said he may revisit it at Stage 3.

 

The next meeting of the health committee will take place on Wednesday 18 November at 10am in committee room 2, while the next meeting of the CPG on Tobacco Control will be on Thursday 3 December.