PUB landlords in Borehamwood have expressed indifference to the ban on cigarette vending machines.

On Saturday, the Department of Health introduced the ban across the whole of England, with the rest of the UK expected to follow next year.

Landlords will still be able to sell cigarettes from behind the bar, but anyone caught selling via vending machines, faces a fine of £2,500.

Manager of The Director’s Arms, in Ripon Way, Paul Dyer said: “It was inevitable, the Government has a thing about cigarettes.

“I think the problem with machines is that the sale is not authorised by anyone so you can’t stop who is buying the cigarettes.”

He added: “We will be putting them behind the bar, so for me it’s not too bad and shouldn’t affect us too much.”

Another pub landlord based in Shenley Road, who asked not to be named, said the ban would have little impact on business.

However, he argued the general smoking ban, introduced in 2007, had already damaged the pub trade and changed the culture of social drinking.

And Jim O'Sullivan, landlord of The Green Dragon, in Leeming Road, said although his pub had not had a vending machine for the past five years, it was "another nail in the coffin" for the trade.

He added: "I think half the pubs in this area will be shut by the end of next year. We'll only have the pubs in the high street left."

However, the ban has been welcomed by health care professionals who insist it will protect children from getting hold of cigarettes.

Dr Anne McConville, acting regional director of public health for NHS East of England, said: “This legislation forms a crucial part of our programme in the East of England to reduce the uptake of smoking among young people.

“Removing access to tobacco from vending machines will help to protect future generations in the region from becoming addicted to a product that is still the greatest cause of preventable death, disease and disability.”