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A BAN ON the display of tobacco products and other in-store advertising has been imposed and will, hopefully, lead to a reduction in the incidence of smoking by children and young persons. For years, tobacco companies engaged in a determined effort to “normalise” smoking in the eyes of children by arranging for their products and advertising material to be displayed alongside sweets and chocolates. They had to be stopped. It was an insidious campaign that regarded company profits as more important than the health of children and the lives of adults.

By taking this action, the Government has given a lead to the rest of Europe. Five years ago, it caused something of a sensation when it banned smoking in the workplace for health reasons. Since then, a number of European Union states have followed suit and others are moving in that direction. But the tobacco industry is fighting an effective rearguard action. Just how effective can be gleaned from the fact that while tobacco consumption fell in the aftermath of the workplace ban in this State, it has since recovered. That was achieved through an increase in sales to young people and to women in particular.