UK: Wales Implements Tobacco Display Ban in Large Stores

Source from:  Netdoctor 12/04/2012

Supermarkets and other large stores in Wales are no longer allowed to display tobacco products.

Following the implementation of new legislation, shops will only be allowed to have cigarettes and other tobacco products on display when they are serving customers or restocking.

Price lists for cigarettes will be printed on plain A3 sheets with no branding allowed.

At present, the legislation only affects large shops and supermarkets, but newsagents and other retailers will be required to comply with the display ban at a later date.

The goal is to reduce the proportion of people who smoke in Wales from around 23 per cent to just 16 per cent by 2020.

Health minister Lesley Griffiths told the BBC: 'Smoking remains a huge risk to public health in Wales. Around 20 per cent of our NHS admissions are related to smoking, at a cost of more than £1 million a day.

'We know that young people can be influenced by seeing cigarettes on display, and that they can tempt adults who are trying to give up the habit.'

England introduced a similar ban in April and is also considering new legislation requiring tobacco products to be wrapped in plain packaging. Enditem