Cigarette display ban in force at supermarkets

Cigarettes and tobacco products were today covered up in supermarkets for the first time as new laws banning their display came into force.

Large supermarkets have been made to hide cigarettes from view and have spent months changing their kiosks. Newsagents and smaller shops have until April 2015. The aim is to cut the number of teenagers who take up smoking.

It is estimated 200,000 teenagers a year pick up the habit.

Suzanne Cronin, spokesman for Waitrose, said: "As a responsible retailer we want to make sure we are fully compliant with the change in legislation.

"Between January and March we trialled new tobacco display units with sliding doors in two shops, and we rolled out the new units to the rest of the branches covered by the legislation ahead of April 6."

Sainsbury's adapted the kiosks in its larger stores and many, including Wolverhampton, had already hidden cigarettes away before today.

The law does not yet affect its "Local" chain of convenience store.

Sainsbury's spokesman Tom Parker said: "With regard to our convenience stores we will listen to any feedback we receive from customers, colleagues and the authorities to ensure that by 2015 we again have a solution that not only meets the requirements of the legislation but also ensures we are still able to provide a quality service."

South Staffordshire tobacco vending firm Sinclair Collis has been hit with soaring duty prices and a ban on machines in pubs. The company, which has an office in Four Ashes, has already been forced to axe 30 jobs nationally.

Spokesman Simon Evans said: "Regrettably, as part of the re-organisation of the business, we've lost three admin roles at Four Ashes but continue to employ around 30 people there."