Shops that sell cigarettes to children are to be banned from selling any tobacco products, under a stringent new law designed to crack down on under-age smoking.

The government is also to raise the age that cigarettes can be bought from 16 to 18.
Government sources said the crackdown would be brought in "very shortly". A clause in a new bill in the Queen's Speech, later this month, is expected to include measures to license the sale of tobacco, like alcohol. The licence to sell tobacco would be revoked if a shop repeatedly flouts the law on sales to minors. (pi)