Scotland set for tobacco bans

8th February 2013

The ban on open display of tobacco products in large shops and sales from self-service tobacco vending machines will be introduced on 29 April.

Two orders laid in Parliament today by Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson set the date for the display and vending machine bans to come into force in Scotland.

The ban will come into force for smaller retailers on 6 April 2015.

Welcoming the final stage of the legislation’s journey, Mr Michael Matheson said: “We know that reducing the number of people that smoke will have wide benefits for Scotland’s health and evidence shows that these bans will help prevent young people from taking up smoking.

“That is why we believe this is the right approach for Scotland and I am delighted that we are now in a position to implement these bans, which is a key step in maintaining Scotland’s position as a world leader on tobacco control.

“We have worked closely with retailers to set this date. We appreciate that smaller retailers need extra time to make the necessary changes and so we have decided that April 2015 represents a fair timescale for implementing the display ban for them.”

The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 prohibits the display of tobacco products and smoking related products in places where tobacco products are offered for sale.

Large shops are defined as those with a floor area exceeding 280 square metres.