PLANS to outlaw displays of cigarettes in shops have been outlined as part of a range of measures to tackle smoking across Scotland.
Public health minister Shona Robison also said a ban on the sale of cigarettes in packets of ten will be considered as part of an action plan to "denormalise" smoking.
Other proposals include updating statutory controls on the sale of tobacco pr
oducts, including the introduction of cautions and fixed penalty notices.
Ms Robison said: "Reducing the number of smokers in Scotland is a key part of our drive to turn the tide of Scotland's poor health record.
"We simply can't afford to ignore the damage that smoking does, as both the human and economic costs are horrendous."
Ms Robison said she hoped the measures would build on the success of the ban on smoking in public places and would help discourage youngsters from taking up the habit.
She added: "Smoking is dangerous at any age but the statistics are stark. Eighty per cent of smokers start in their teens. Someone who starts smoking at 15 is three times more likely to die from cancer as a result than someone who starts in their mid-twenties."
Smoking is responsible for around 13,000 deaths and 33,500 hospital admissions each year in Scotland.
It costs the NHS more than £200 million a year for hospital treatment for smoking related illnesses.
Today's proposals are being backed by an additional £9 million worth of funding over three years.
Laurence Gruer, chair of the Smoking Prevention Working Group whose recommendations informed the content of the action plan, said: "I am very encouraged that the Scottish Government has acted on our advice.
The action plan is exactly the package of tough but sensible measures we need to cut the number of young people in Scotland who become addicted to this toxic substance."
Sheila Duffy, of anti-smoking group ASH Scotland, said: "We warmly welcome the publication of the action plan today as a framework for debate and a chance for real progress in Scotland's health.
"At present, nearly a quarter of adults in Scotland die early from tobacco related diseases. Taking action now will help to ensure a healthier future for our children."
The full article contains 379 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
