Government marks one-month countdown to tobacco display ban

The government has reminded large shops in England that there is only a month to go before a ban on visible tobacco displays comes into effect.

In preparation for the April 6th 2012 launch of the new legislation, Sainsbury's, The Co-operative and Waitrose have commenced trials of concealed tobacco displays, while other retailers are finding out if they will be affected and what steps they may need to take.

The aim of the laws is to help change attitudes and societal norms around smoking, which will discourage people from either starting or continuing a cigarette habit.

More than 80,000 deaths a year are still caused in England by smoking, making it the country's leading preventable cause of mortality.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the UK's chief medical officer, said: "We will soon start protecting children and young people from the unsolicited promotion of tobacco products in shops, helping them to resist the temptation to start smoking."

This comes after the Department of Health allied with UK pharmacies to distribute special Quit Kits last month, coinciding with Valentine's Day.