This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7412509.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Smoking clampdown to be unveiled Tobacco display ban plan unveiled
(about 3 hours later)
The Scottish Government is poised to announce further measures to clamp down on smoking. Plans to ban the open display of cigarettes in shops have been announced by the Scottish Government.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison will outline plans to make cigarettes less accessible and less affordable. Public Health Minister Shona Robison said giving them "pride of place" on shelves did not fit with the drive to tackle smoking-related illness.
It is two years since Scotland led the UK in banning smoking in public places, and six months since the legal age for buying cigarettes was raised to 18.It is two years since Scotland led the UK in banning smoking in public places, and six months since the legal age for buying cigarettes was raised to 18.
Anti-smoking groups such as Ash have been calling for cigarettes to be removed from display in shops. Ms Robison announced a series of other measures to the Scottish Parliament.
The UK Government has been considering such a move for England, as well as tougher controls on cigarette vending machines in pubs and restaurants. The plans included outlawing the sale of cigarettes in packs of 10, bringing in plain packaging and cracking down on counterfeit cigarettes.
Scottish ministers also want to make tobacco products more expensive. Ms Robison told MSPs: "Despite tobacco advertising having being banned in 2002, there are growing concerns that prominent displays of cigarettes and other tobacco products in shops and other points of sale are undermining our wider tobacco control efforts to denormalise smoking."
One way could be through the introduction of smoking permit, which would be required for anyone buying cigarettes. Such a move would be possible under devolved powers. The minister said she recognised concern in the retail sector about banning displays, but said they were clearly being used as a promotional tool.
"The protection of children and young people from the impact of tobacco must be paramount and there are instances - and this is one - when the benefits to the public health of the nation must take precedence," she said.