The department of health is proposing to ban tobacco displays in retail locations in Northern Ireland as of 1 July 2011, the Belfast Telegraph reported on Friday.

“By introducing measures banning cigarette displays in shops, we are protecting our children and young people, and we are also supporting those smokers in our society who are attempting to quit,” said health minister Michael McGimpsey.
Merchants responded to the news by saying the ban would likely increase the tobacco black market as smokers would seek to buy their cigarettes elsewhere.
The assembly had already approved the display ban in March 2009, but Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politicians wanted the ban to take effect in 2013 to give retailers the time to fund changes to their premises. (pi)