Posted on September 23, 2009

As the anti-smoking group ASH called for a ban on tobacco promotional displays in stores, they announced that 15,000 young people start smoking every year.

“Retail displays have an impact on future smokers—not current ones. Removing displays may well incur a one-off cost, which I think the industry should bear if they want retailers to continue to stock their products,” said ASH Scotland chief Sheila Duffy.

"But it is a health measure that must be weighed against the cost to public health, lives and the NHS," she added.

Duffy will also tell a conference in Edinburgh today that despite a rise in the age to buy cigarettes to 18, 4 percent of Scotland’s 13-year-olds still smoke.

A ban on displays would be introduced under the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill, which will be debated in Parliament tomorrow.

"A child who starts smoking at 14 or younger is 15 times more likely to die of lung cancer than someone who never smokes,” Duffy added. “Without tobacco, our youngsters have a bright future."