Youngsters are less likely to take up smoking following the introduction of a ban on shops displaying cigarettes

A ban on displaying cigarettes and tobacco in shops has reduced the amount of young people taking up smoking.

A new study by the University of Stirling – funded by Cancer Research UK – found a ban on tobacco being on display at shop counters helps to safeguard young people.

Tobacco products have been hidden from point-of-sale displays across the UK for more than four years.

Report author Dr Allison Ford said: "Prior to the display ban, we found that young 'never smokers' who noticed cigarettes displayed at point-of-sale, and those who were aware of more cigarette brands, were more likely to indicate being susceptible to smoking.

"Both partial and full implementation of the display ban were followed by statistically significant reductions in youth smoking susceptibility and noticing cigarettes at point-of-sale."

The report found the smoking susceptibility of children who had never smoked decreased from 28% pre-ban to 18% post-ban, whilst 81% of those interviewed noticed cigarettes at point-of-sale before the law came into force, compared to 28% afterwards.

Cancer Research UK tobacco control manager Kruti Shrotri said: "Glitzy displays and glamorous packaging helped the tobacco industry to lure the next generation of smokers into taking up a deadly addiction.

"But contrary to Big Tobacco's belief that banning displays would make no difference this study shows that by putting cigarettes out of sight and out of mind far fewer youngsters are taking up the deathly habit."