SMOKERS may have noticed that Tesco, Morrison and Waitrose in Leighton and Linslade have all hidden their tobacco displays behind screens this week as new laws come into place on Friday.
NHS Bedfordshire’s Director of Public Health, Muriel Scott has said that the new legislation banning tobacco displays in larger shops will help protect young people, who are often the target of tobacco promotion.
From tomorrow (April 6), all large shops in England will need to hide tobacco products from view. The regulations will then affect all other businesses selling tobacco to the public on April 6, 2015.
Muriel Scott said: “Smoking kills more than 600 people in Bedfordshire and Luton each year – making it one of the biggest preventable causes of premature death.
“Tobacco displays not only promote brands to potential new young smokers but they also tempt people, perhaps ex-smokers, who did not intend to buy. We cannot ignore the fact that young people are recruited into smoking by tobacco promotion, which is why I welcome this new legislation.”
Evidence shows that the display of tobacco products in shops can promote smoking by young people and undermine the resolve of adult smokers who are trying to quit.
Two thirds of smokers say they were already regular smokers before they turned 18. More than 300,000 children under 16 try smoking each year.
There are so many reasons why it makes sense to give up smoking:
• There are 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, 69 are known to cause cancer
• Increased risk of early death caused by cancer, heart disease and lung disease
• 50% of all regular smokers die before the age of 65 from the habit
• A 20 a day smoker will spend over £2000 a year on cigarettes or tobacco
For help and advice on quitting smoking contact the Bedfordshire Stop Smoking Service on 0800 013 0553.