Banning cigarette displays in corner shops and supermarkets will help reduce child smoking in future generations, Public Health Minister Shona Robison said on Tuesday.
The move is one of the proposals in the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill, which is to be debated in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday.
The minister was visiting a shop in Perth, whose owner supports the plans to ban tobacco displays.
The new bill's proposals include a ban on tobacco displays in shops, the introduction of a registration scheme for retailers, banning cigarette vending machines, fixed penalty notices for retailers who sell cigarettes to under 18s and banning orders to prevent retailers selling cigarettes if they continually flout the law.
Ms Robison said: "For decades, too many Scots families have watched loved ones suffer and die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses. We're determined to do all we can to end this misery and, particularly, to stop children and young people from starting to smoke in the first place.
"That's why, as part of our drive to improve the nation's health, we are taking decisive action to make cigarettes less attractive and less easily available to children.
"Stopping future generations from smoking will help us make a huge leap forward in improving Scotland's health and I believe our proposals will help us do just that.
"The cost of smoking is so high - both in terms of blighted lives and the 400 million pounds cost to the NHS annually û that it's essential we take furtherfirm action now."
Khalid Khurshid, who runs the Muirton Food Market in Perth, said: "The tobacco display ban proposals going before parliament this week will act to deter people from smoking, particularly the young.
"There are two schools near my shop and school children often come in and look at the display before asking adults passing by to purchase cigarettes for them.
"In my opinion tobacco companies are trying to scare retailers by suggesting that if displays are banned, business will close. I disagree with this and completely support this bid to end cigarette displays."
Last updated: 22 September 2009, 19:35
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