Call to shelve cigarette displays

Published on Friday 11 July 2008 10:22

ANTI-SMOKING campaigners have urged Scotland to follow Ireland’s lead in banning cigarettes from going on display in shops.

ASH Scotland believes such a move would help people to quit or cut down and would ultimately save lives.

Ireland will put cigarettes out of sight in all stores from July 1 next year. ASH Scotland is pushing for a similar licensing scheme to be introduced here, believing it protects young people from unscrupulous retailers and will curb the illegal tobacco trade, which in many cases is linked to organised crime.

Sheila Duffy, chief executive of ASH Scotland, said: “I’d like to congratulate Ireland for once again taking the lead in tobacco control. The motivation behind such strong legislation is the desire to improve the overall health of our people and to do everything possible to make smoking less attractive.”