Black market tobacco claims slammed in display ban row

A STUDY which claimed a ban on the display of cigarettes will spark a rise in black market tobacco has been dismissed by a city charity.

ASH Scotland said the Tobacco Retailers Alliance was simply "diverting attention" from the core of the debate by scaremongering.

"The reality is that there is no substance to these claims," said chief executive Sheila Duffy.

"There is no reason to think that adult smokers who currently buy their product legally from responsible retailers will suddenly switch to illegal sources because the product is no longer on display.

"Smokers will be able to go on buying what they normally buy, where they normally buy it."

She added that the legislation brought in by the Scottish Government was aimed at protecting youngsters and this was another example of the tobacco industry distracting from "important health issues".