The Scottish Parliament yesterday approved a law banning the display of cigarettes in shops and cigarette vending machines, reports the BBC.

The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services Bill, passed on 27 January 2010, will ban the display of tobacco in shops in Scotland, cigarette vending machines and will introduce a registration scheme for retailers. 108 Members of the Scottish Parliament backed the bill, with 15 voting against it. The changes will come into force in 2011 for large retailers, smaller shops have until 2013.
Ministers said the legislation would make cigarettes less attractive to children and young people. But shopkeepers and manufacturers said the measures were unjustified and would be costly to bring in. (pi)