Shopkeepers could be banned from displaying cigarettes under plans being considered by the Government.
The Department of Health is launching a consultation to look at ways to stop children smoking.
Ministers have drawn up proposals to cut the number of smokers and prevent children from taking up the habit including a bar on displaying tobacco produ
cts and the removal of vending machines.
The proposals follow on from the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places last July.
According to the Department of Health, the strategy – coupled with the wider smokefree legislation – will save hundreds of lives.
Someone who starts smoking aged 15 is three times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their late twenties, the department said.
Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said: "Children who smoke are putting their lives at risk and are more likely to die of cancer than people who start smoking later.
"It's vital we get across the message to children that smoking is bad. If that means stripping out vending machines or removing cigarettes from behind the counter, I'm willing to do that."
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, the proportion of adults who now smoke has dropped by two per cent from 24 per cent to 22 per cent.
Around 165,000 smokers are said to have quit between April and September last year – an increase of 28 per cent compared with the same period the previous year.
The Government has set a target of reducing the proportion of smokers in England to 21 per cent by 2010.
In this year's Budget, Chancellor Alistair Darling increased the duty on tobacco, adding 11p to the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes and 4p to the price of five cigars.
Tory leader David Cameron commented: "I think this is worth looking at. As someone who struggled with giving up smoking, it helps if you take away some of the temptation.
"It is difficult and there will be all sorts of problems in terms of the layout of shops, that's why it's right to have a consultation, so let's have a look at this but let's not rule it out."
Mark Littlewood, communications director of think tank Progressive Vision, said: "Cigarettes are a product for adults and sensible steps need to be taken to prevent youngsters buying them but banning the display of cigarettes and vending machines would be petty, pointless and patronising."
He added: "These sorts of ideas are typical of a government who seem hell bent on intervening in every single aspect of our lives, however trivial."
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