Tobacco Crackdown

Restrictions on small shops displaying tobacco products come into force in exactly a month.

The Scottish government introduced the rules to try and change our attitudes to smoking.

Larger stores have had to cover up cigarettes, cigars and tobacco pouches since 2013.

Maureen Watt, Minister for Public Health, said: “This is one of numerous measures we have introduced to try and reduce the appeal of smoking to young people. We want to create a tobacco-free generation in Scotland by 2034 – defined as having less than five per cent of the population smoking. To achieve this we need to stop young people from taking up the habit in the first place.

“Brightly coloured and well lit displays of cigarettes, in prominent positions in the shop, are only likely to increase the appeal of this deadly product. We must remember that tobacco kills half of all the people who use it, and it’s linked to 13,000 deaths in Scotland every year.

“I’d like to thank tobacco retailers for their cooperation and understanding in making the necessary changes to comply with this new policy.

“The display ban, alongside other measures such as plain packaging, will play an important part in a culture change in our attitudes to smoking.”