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What can be done to kick the habit?
While most people will welcome the Government's determination that children should not take up smoking, some retailers fear the new controls on the sale of tobacco could affect already struggling businesses.
It comes as Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham announced a number of commitments for a 'smoke-free' Britain yesterday.
David Spence, deputy director of public health from NHS Northamptonshire, welcomed the announcement and said: "We need to keep working hard to ensure a tobacco-free future.
"The removal of tobacco products from retail display and prohibiting the sale of tobacco from vending machines will reduce exposure to advertising and remove the largely unsupervised sale of tobacco to children.
"This strategy will further support and target smokers who wish to give up by increasing and widening our already excellent stop-smoking services and making it easier for smokers to get the help they need when and where they need it."
More support for smokers trying to quit and a crackdown on illegal cigarettes will be welcomed but tobacconists feel more tax on cigarettes and plain packaging and simpler shop displays might affect sales.
Del Patel, who owns a string of convenience stores in Kettering, said: "It's an absolute certainty that it will affect retail. In most convenience stores one of the major draws is tobacco sales. Anything that affects that is going to affect cash flow.
"It will also impact sales of other goods. People who come into the shop to buy cigarettes also usually pick up a pack of sweets or something else. "Anything that stops people coming in through the door is bad for retail."
Pub landlords know only too well the effect of anti-smoking legislation on business with many pubs closing following the introduction of the smoking ban two years ago.
Stopping the sale of tobacco from vending machines, which are often in pubs, bars and nightclubs, could affect them further.
Sue Pugsley, landlady of The George pub, Desborough, said: "It has affected business badly. Not so many people come in any more.
"There is no atmosphere any more. It's a working class thing, coming for a pint and a cigarette. The Government shouldn't be allowed to dictate things like this. I'm not a smoker myself but it's a person's
right to do so."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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