Tobacco on show 'likely to encourage children'

Point-of-sale tobacco displays in shops are "cool, fun, and attractive" and are likely to encourage smoking, said children questioned in a study.

It comes as the Government considers whether to reverse a ban on cigarette vending machines and on shop displays of cigarettes and tobacco.

A law was passed by MPs in October when Labour was in power but the regulations needed to implement the changes are not in force.

The 2009 Health Act would ban cigarette vending machines and put tobacco out of sight in all shops by the end of 2013.

Health campaigners yesterday called on the Government not to scrap the law, saying children's health must come before the needs of retailers.

Newsagents have said the proposal could cost them 250m, while Conservative MPs have questioned stopping shops displaying tobacco during a recession, when business is slower.

Cancer Research UK director of tobacco control Jean King said: "Business profits are no reason to allow the easy access of vending machines and colourful wall displays of cigarettes to remain."

The research, from the University of Stirling and published in the journal Health Promotion Practice, found that children thought it was easy to buy tobacco and shopkeepers did not always ask for ID.

The Department of Health said Business Secretary Vince Cable set out an action plan last month to reduce regulation for businesses. Consideration is being given to a wide range of regulations, including the sale of tobacco, it said.

Research out today from the NHS Information Centre shows a drop in the number of 11 to 15-year-olds smoking, drinking and taking drugs.

A survey in England found the number who had tried smoking at least once was 29 per cent – the lowest figure since the survey began in 1982 when it was 53 per cent.