I think this is an poor idea. Firstly, because if a robber came into a corner shop for instance, and told you to place the cigarettes in a bag (and other items), then they could easily hurt or even kill you (this is because it is in an awkward position to reach!) Secondly, it would be hard to find which one is which because they would be low down, especially on a low counter, so you would have to have another one put in (extra cost) which brings me onto my next point, The cost of it. It would be to an execssive level, which frankly corner shop owners would struggle to pay. Another point is that if underage or in age, the citizens who choose to buy this product, it is their health at risk. Basically they are paying to kill themselves! I understand it is costing the NHS a vast sum of money, but the smokers should have a more premium price to pay in money instead of making changes to the sellers of the items. Lastly, why should the sellers have to struggle if they are only making a living

Hiten, Essex, England

Well done Dawn Primarolo, regarding the forecasted one billion tobacco deaths this century and that 90% of smokers become addicted while impressionable children.

There is a fundamental moral obligation to protect children from harm!
And to protect freedom! Yes “Freedom” - Addiction is slavery!

Stuart Holmes,
Anti Smoking Campaigner.

Stuart Holmes, Manchester/London, England

Why dont the government legislate themselves out of sight, as they are bad for our health....FULL STOP.

mike, Bow, London

This Government (Scottish) has already passed legislation to come into effect next year which will restrict the areas that off sales premises can display alcohol. Only one of those areas can be accessible to members of the public and in case we can't control ourselves items like bottle openers, corkscrews cant be displayed in the same area. Indeed only soft drinks can be displayed in the same area.
And as a Clive says none of this will stop my alcohol intake....Its governments like this that drive one to drink.

Neil, Elgin, Scotland

I smoke and I couldnt give a damn about what anyone thinks, it is my life and i will do what I want to my own body, as to the cost of the NHS, I have paid my dues and if |I become ill by smoking or some other illness then I have paid for my treatment through NI and the exhorbitant tax I pay to the government for buying cigarettes. The government whinge about smugglers bringing in cigarettes, bleating on about lost revenue to retailers and the treasury and possible job loses, why are they so bothered if they themselves are trying to get people to stop smoking? Easy, it is all a sham, they want to people to focus on something else instead of the inadequate way they are running the country, to take attention away from issues such as the failure to allow a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, so its come on lets start on the smokers, drinkers etc. Well no one owns the air we breathe and if I want to smoke outside in the fresh air I will.

Patricia Kenny, Bradford, Uk

It will not make any difference what so ever if kids are going to smoke they will no matter what we do or say but it could mean that they will get them by going to there nearest drug dealer and getting them
i remember when i started smoking aged 12 years old i used to pinch them out of my mother's packet of fags also i got friends and family to buy them for me and my parents did not know i smoked until i was 17 years old if i was 12 year old now and they sold fags under the counter it would not stop me from smoking

Emma, Withernsea, England

This is the old case that if it cant be seen the problem is cured, I hope that this will be more successful than other drug use which is also under the counter. Will cigarettes join cannabis and cocoaine and other hard drugs that are sold on street corners.

J E Ellery, Faringdon, Oxon

This is ridiculous. The Shopkeeper should be checking ID anyway. Also, although i agree with the removal of vending machines from resturants, i am not so sure removal from bars is nessercery. Again the owner of the establishment should be checking that underage people are not in the bar anyway.

all this is doing is further inconveniencing people who smoke tobacco products. you can imagine the line lengthening in your local coop (or similar) because the guy at the till is trying to find out what tabacco products the store even stocks.

To the people who claim cigerettes will be perminantly banned: unlikely based on the revenue the taxes bring in, plus supposedly smoking saves the NHS millions each year from people dying from smoking related illnesses (saving the NHS the money for other treatment for the individual for the rest of there life).

James Calvey, Crawley Down, West Sussex

Good move ! – The World Health Organisation forecast one billion tobacco deaths this century ! That figure is so massive it works out to more than 15 times greater than the total war dead of the entire 20th century (excluding genocide) (or 1/6 of the Worlds population !) due to a consumer product sold in children’s sweet shops !
Just look where they sell cigarettes – directly behind the sweeties, just out of reach, impressionable children get the notion that these goodies are reserved for grown ups. Enticement !
The cigarette companies know all about enticing children into the tobacco holocaust, the greatest form of enticement comes from Actors Smoking (role models etc.) who have been exempted from the smoking bans, as via the corrupt legislation of the “2006 Health Act”, which states “Actors may smoke if the artistic integrity of the performance requires them to smoke”.
Also the –“2002 Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act”. Which according to the UK,s top Judge Sir Igor Judge in his judgement reasoned that Actors Smoking neither promotes or advertises cigarettes?
The enticement of children into the Tobacco Holocaust, in terms of weight of harm and immorality, is probably the greatest crime ever committed on this planet !!
Google – “Actors Smoking Children”. Click on “Friction TV”.
Stuart Holmes. Anti Smoking Campaigner.

Stuart Holmes, M/c / London, UK

I am not a smoker, but it occurs to me that if the government put as much money, time, and effort into medical research as it does into persecuting smokers we might have had a cure for cancer by now.

Justinian, Berks, UK

Kids are going to smoke, always have always will. Most of those kids will continue to smoke into adulthood, always have always will. The government will make trillions from smokers, always have always will. The media will make news out of non-news items, and waste money/time on an issue that is rather pointless to take discussion away from the real issues, always have always will.

This smoking stuff is nonsence If I drive down a motorway with the window open, or walk down a road where constant traffic passes by i'm pretty sure the passive smoking from car fumes is slightly worse than that of cigarettes.

Cigarettes are evil, they have been thrust upon society by big business and the state to make sure the money we earn goes back to them. Just like most things in society. But they dont want us to stop smoking, they want us to think they want us to stop smoking, while we keep on smoking. Just like car tax, beer tax etc, they dont want us to stop drinking, driving just get more money.

Andy Foreman, Liverpool,

more absolute lunacy! we the smokers are being targeted, why? because we smoke because we pay the goverment £4.50 in tax on every we pack we buy? so when they finally irradicate the smoker! where will the missing millions of pounds in the treasury come from? watch out drivers next it will be a wheel tax, 4 wheels!!!! a mileage tax a boot tax (god help the poor estate car owners!)
Hang on i've a great idea how about we remove alcohol from sight!!!! or porn or fast food, stuff it leave everything where it is and we'll remove ourselves from sight go find a nice cave in wales crawl down there and live the perfect existence where the goverment doesn't have to worry that we "children" cannot make a decision about our own health and well being! live on mushrooms (non magic!) and drink water seeped from the walls!

Paul McGuinness, Clacton on Sea, Essex

This is not an "assault on smokers", it is an assault on the cynical corporations that trade in the death of smokers carried out for the benefit of everyone else, smokers included.

Oliver Chettle, Bedford,

Another silly law. OK smoking is a risk factor,but where do you stop? do you stop displaying junk food in supermarkets? Its all down to education The worse drug of them all is alcohol,it changes your character,makes you aggressive,and ruins your liver.You never hear of families breaking up because the Mother or Father smokes,but alcohol ruins marriages.
Legislation should be brought out whereby it is an offence not only to buy cigarettes under 18 but also to smoke under 18 and in a public place the same as alcohol.At the moment an 18 year old can buy cigarettes (non smoker) and then give them to his 14 year old brother Apart from the education aspect it also down to freedom of choice

K Dodson, Stornoway, Scotland

Why don't they just hurry up and prohibit tobacco? If its so dangerous to society why is it legal?

Pete, London, UK

I have a better idea! How about you don't sell them at all?

Kim Righetti, Upland, Calif. USA

Some good comments made on here......

This Government know damn well how much they would lose in tax if they made cigarettes an illegal drug (a drug being what it is, when all's said and done).

However, the remark that alcohol is a comparitive (apart from the tax factor) is absolute rubbish. Drinking alcohol in the presence of other people does not directly affect their health. Smoking does - besides, neither do smokers (or non-smokers alike) appreciate me making an abhorrent smell from my backside when they are eating in a restaurant.....point made.

However, it's time people understood this habit IS a drug addiction and and the Goverment that the income from tabacco tax should be made SECONDARY to the health issues associated with smoking.

Like any tax that makes money, this Labour Government doesn't really give a toss what happens - until smoing is made illegal, it's all hot air. Smoking addicts need REAL help - as does anyone who's health is under threat...

Andrew Whitehead, Manchester,

Governments should be put on trial for allowing and taxing the sale of additive drugs to the population including children of non-voting age. They are no better than drug pushers.

Matt, Naples, Italy

If this Labour Government is really ashamed of Tobacco it should stop taking the Tax it gets from it, at least then this government of weak fools would have a moral leg to dictate to us on this subject.

Dan, London, England

I think this is fantastic. Smoking should have been outlawed years ago. This is a great step toward ridding this country of the greatest cause of terminal illness. Imagine how much time, effort and energy we are helping solve.
Rich Lee, I am very saddened to see you learned nothing from your days in school. 19 and smoking?

Keo MacFarlane, Glasgow,

As an ex-smoker I don't think hiding cigarettes takes away the addiction. Your will-power will do that for you.
What it will do though is remove the temptation of a young non-smoker to try it.
We've had doors over the smoke displays in shops now for nearly a year in Nova Scotia and it's no big deal.

Scotsman, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada

Perhaps the government has a practical point. I jeered when I heard about the proposed cut in the number of paracetmol tablets that could be sold by a shop to any person at one time. The idea was to reduce suicides. Ludicrous i thought. But I was wrong. As a result, suicide rate HAS dropped. It appears that suicide- like cigarette craving- is notional.

Tom McParland, LONDON , UK

Current government thinking is attack the things that will affect our personal lifestyle.

Smoking, Drinking, Motoring and Plastic Bags.

We do as a nation have much greater worries at present with the economy. I see this as a means of diverting attention away from the very serious financial problems that we face.

Now what really bad news has been sneaked out by yet another nanny gate directive?

Return of our old friend SPIN methinks.

Frank Healy, Huddersfield, England

This is just a prelude to a total ban on cigarettes. The sooner the better, as far as I am concerned.

As for stopping kids buying, who knows? One thing's for sure, it's no accident that sweets and magazines are located by shop tills. How often have you picked one or the other up whilst waiting to pay? If they were out of sight, you wouldn't have bought. The same may work for kids.

Smoking is a disgusting habit, regardless of the age of the person doing it.

Andy, Moenchengladbach, Germany

Del Boy - I have nothing against smoking or any other form of drug taking. I believe in freadom of choice. My point was that all these do gooders trying to "help" smokers are waisting their time. I smoked for over 30 years and was convinced I could never quit. Like most smokers I tired many times to stop but it was only when I accepted that nicotine is a drug that all the brainwashing fell away and stopping was easy. Our govornment spend 10's of millions a year on anti smoking ads that can never work, while the tabacco companies spend over 1 billion promoting smoking and they are very good at it.

As for Allen and Morris C - how pathetic, get a life! Is that all you have to winge about? A bit of smoke? I know people who whare aftershave more offensive that cigarette smoke. You'll probally die from toxins from trafic fumes anyway. If your that sensative stay at home and let others get on with their lives.

Mark Sheppard, Retford, UK

What next hide the pork pies from the obese, ban all car adverts in the name of climate change and close down all newspapers that critisize the government because they dont want you to know the truth. Take a look world this is democracy in action. I only hope the victimised 22 percent of adults use their vote at upcoming local elections. It would appear the British National Party intend to overturn the smoking ban and return the option of choice to the people.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

Just think of all the corner shop owners having to refit their shops on the whim of a crazy Government, with an unproven method. As advertising of the Cig brand is banned, why not just remove the colours from all Cig packets. This would make brand names indistinguishable. Make the Cig companies do the work by making them sell cigs in plain white packets with restricted black text for the brand name.

The same could apply for other tobacco products, thus avoided the need for the Corner shop owner incurring unnecessary refit expense.

As a smoker a plain white packet would not affect my buying habits, nor would were they are located in the shop.

Simon Towers, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

Another nail in the coffin of the tobacco industry while at the same time Labour has alienated its own voters. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

That policy will really work hide tobacco under the counter and the children of today wont be inclined to buy. Just like drugs that are illegal (cannabis,cocaine etc). Get real.

Heatherbell, Fife,

About time - nicotine is an extremely addictive drug which I've managed to finally give up - mainly, I believe, thanks to the smoking ban in public spaces.

The removal of the temptation right in front of you every time you go to your local newsagents can only help other people give up to.

Graham, Glasgow,

It is my opinion that those who are under age between 18 and 21 must produce their ID to purchase tobacco/cigerettes from shops to avoid further disputes in the transaction.

Ismail Abdulrehiman, Milton keynes, UK-England

While I don't believe that putting cigarettes under the counter will affect smokers much, I would agree with removing vending machines.
When I first started smoking at eleven (I have quit now) it was almost impossible to buy them from shops, and while some friends stole from parents, I relied on sneaking into pubs to buy from vending machines. If there hadn't been any, it would have been that much harder to obtain them. This also means that if a person is trying to quit, but drinking weakens their resolve (as happens!) it is harder to obtain them. This means that only sober smokers aware of their actions and planning to smoke can do so. I think this will be a real boon to quitters who still want to drink.

Marianne, London,

Freedom of choice is one of our basic fundamental rights. I agree that I choose not to smoke so I shouldn't be made to breathe in other peoples fumes, however this measure will just make black market demand increase. It's like the recent "bizarre" notion that we make any film that shows smoking an 18 certificate.

Rather than take away the choice, why don't we simply educate. If someone wants to carry on whilst knowing the dangers, let them - we are quick to jump into another country and give them the freedom of choice, why can't we have it here?

Paul Moxon, Birmingham,

is there anything that this government have allowed people to do?

ed, nottingham, nottinghamshire

I think this is a step in the right direction. However I would wish to see smoking banned entirely, with those unable to stop be given cigarettes on prescription. New smokers will be few and far between and eventually we will not have to endure other peoples second hand smoke when walking in the street. Smoking is dirty, smelly and totally antisocial and has no benefit whatsoever. Most smokers probably cannot afford £6.00 per 20 and if the "die-hards" bleat that smoking is their only pleasure, I would say that their pleasure is also having a free NHS service to mend their ailing bodies through their own selfishness. And the Treasury will get a bit less tax too.

T Wills, Torbay, UK

The Government has FAILED to control drug taking despite massive legal powers. The recent disclosure that 1 in 5 school children have been found with drugs underlines that incompetence. Furthermore, they now come up with the idea that hiding cigarettes under the counter will reduce smoking in anyone merely displays the sterility of ideas of the Government.

In fact, this announcement is really a red herring to distract attention from other far more important issues such as the current financial crisis, the referendum, the upcoming elections, Iraq and national identity for starters.

This Government is a national disaster; unfortunately there is no way to impeach them!

M. Cawdery, Portadown, Co. UK, EU.

Like Allan from Aberdeen, I too am disgusted when assaulted with smoke in public streets, befouling the fresh air; is there no way a law can be passed to force these ghastly smokers to take their dirty habit indoors?

Morris C, Birmingham,

For goodness sake, what next?! Hiding alcohol up in shops because some people overdo it? Hiding chocolate bars and crisps up because obesity is causing premature deaths? Blimey, that is one huge counter the shop assistants are going to have to stand behind!

Sally-Ann Oakes, Norwich, Norfolk

In reply to marks post. Lets put this in context, yes Tobacco is a drug granted, But I would suggest that there are far more real drug users in this country than smokers. This is just another attempt on total control by the nanny state this country has become. If they are so determined to make us all healthy then perhaps they should treat the other drug users i,e the drinkers in kind. Especially those that are underage. Because yes drink is also a drug and a dangerous one at that and just as harmful to your body. When I light up a cigarette I do not fall all over the place or want to fight or drive dangerously or in any way want to be antisocial. Besides who gave the government or anybody else the right to take away our freedom of choice. Those that jump on the band wagon in these cases and many more would be better suited to direct their efforts at far more worthwhile projects that are a real concern to this country.

Del Boy, Bournemouth, UK

As a smoker, i find it ridiculous that with this new legislation, i am going to feel like a criminal when i ask for a pack of cigs...if the goverment is intent on trying to stop the younger generation (& i am only 19 myself) starting smoking, then why not look at who they look upto i:e peers...if thier older siblings or parents smoke, and they are not setting the message that smoking is bad, then hiding cigs is going to do absolutely no good...they may aswell stop producing cigarretes, if they are that intent on making sure less people start smoking...free country...never felt so controlled.

Rich Lee, Keighley, United Kingdom

In Reply to Brian's post, this is the sort of approach that has never worked, does not work and will never work. Get it clear - smoking is an addiction to a drug. Do you really think any drug addict is put off by the price or the dangers? Of course not. We need to understand the fear that addiction creats and the ways in which the tobacco companies have used this in the past to keep people addicted and the way the nicotine replacement producers are doing exactley the same thing now.

The first thing a smoker does when they see an anti smoking ad is to light up. These sort of campaigns are welcomed by the tobacco companies because they add to the fear that keeps smokers addicted.

Mark Sheppard, Retford, UK

Smokers are being turned into outcasts, and this latest anti-smoking legislation seems to underline this trend. If tobacco moves to under-the-counter, does this also mean it becomes attractive to the black market? Making price the deterrent has led to a significant trade in 'cheap, imported' tobacco:- the goverment loses tax on this while smoking continues. Kicking the smoking habit may be difficult, but I wonder how hard it will be for the government to stop kicking the smokers too.

F Hathaway, Leeds,

@ Mark Sheppard - I could not have said it better!

Lisa , London, UK

@Mark Sheppard: "We don't give cocaine to cocaine addicts or alcohol to alcoholics so why give nicotine to nicotine addicts?"...

But we do give methadone to heroin addicts, yes? Surely the criterion is not whether or not the substance is addictive, but rather whether it is, in itself, harmful.

Giving alcohol to alcoholics would clearly exacerbate their liver damage, so could hardly be held as effective treatment. Frankly, who cares if some companies make money from nicotine replacement products- they still remain a far better option than smoking which damages the health of the smoker, and those around them.

That said, whilst removing cigarette vending machines sounds thoroughly sensible, I fail to see how hiding cigarette packets under the counter can be anything other than an enormous nuisance for shopkeepers.

Adam Pooler, Brighton,

This is just ridiculous.

I'm a non-smoker, always have been, and am in favour of the no-smoking ban in public places. Makes them much more pleasant (in my opinion).

Having said that, smoking is an ENTIRELY LEGAL activity. Hence, there's no logical reason why vendors shouldn't advertise the product and people buy it.

Putting cost on to private businesses in order to change their displays, whilst themselves making VAST amounts of money out of smokers, is just hypocritical.

Plus, it just won't work.

Though I don't smoke, I do drink. If they (sorry - when they) try the same thing with drink, it will make absolutely NO difference to my consumption of alcohol. Hence, I see no reason why it will affect smokers.

If the government really wants people to stop smoking, they should give help and incentives - financial if necessary - to help people to quit.

Clive, Surrey,

Why not then hide all alcohol in pubs under the counters too? Why not hide all fattening food in shops and supermarkets so fat people aren't tempted?
Do we go to a shop and decide what to buy once we have perused the shelves and counters first or do we already know what we wish to buy before we go into a shop? Will a child change it's mind about buying good or bad products simply because they are not visible? The list goes on. This country is a laughing stock abroad. since Labour have come into power the country is in one big mess and gets worse everyday. Best thing is to leave and settle abroad and live a more normal life.

Mariam, surrey, United Kingdom

Hide them under the counter?? Wow - That'll fox 'em!!
Good grief.

I have smoked for far too many years and yes, I know its a filthy habit, I really do, but for God sake, if the government really cared as much as they pretend they would just make cigarettes illegal. Oh no hang on, how much will that cost them in taxes?

Surely its up to the parents to make sure they know what their little darlings are up to and what they are spending money on?

kelly stevenson, Perth,

More absolute tosh from a government who would not recognize an original, worthwhile idea if it was staring them in the face. Never a day goes by without totally stupid "ideas" such as this from lunacy that masquerades as government.

Chris, Aberdeen,

Europe was fighting communism for 50 years only to be enslaved by the socialists today, what an irony ! 1984 is near :)

Greg, Cracow, Poland

I am amazed at this Orwellian proposal for two reasons. Firstly it goes against all the tenents of this government to actualy propose policies which would reduce the tax take.
Secondly that well paid (too well paid) Ministers can spend mental resourses (yes they must have some) on such a crackpot proposal. Who will police these regulations? I suppose they'll just open another box of inspectors, like they have promsed with midwives and teachers. Please contact me, I'd love to be a ciggie inspector.

David Nammory, Liverpool,

So that'll be another good idea then! Let's make tobacco another "forbidden fruit" to be sought after by the young!
That is precisely the effect such a hare-brained idea will have.
When are governments going to realise that underage *anything* is seen to be glamorous and desirable by young people.
Booze , Fags and drugs will always have this status all the time that authority says "It's bad for you" That is the nature of most young people and it always has been.

Jeffers, Maidstone, UK

I think it's a great idea!

If you think the goverment is wrong by putting tobacco products out of sight then, ergo, you are pro smoking and think it benefits the public.

On a side note, I hate being trapped behind a couple on a busy street who are "in your face smoking". It's disgusting and I see no reason why my health should suffer just because others choose to do so.

Allan, Aberdeen,

This is ridiculous. As Nick said, "another barking idea from a barking government"! What a government, they led us into the Iraq war. Don't they know that war kills! They've now led us into a deep credit crunch, by encouraging borrowing, borrowing, borrowing to spend, spend, spend.

I thought that obesity was the biggest health problem now. Is Primarolo going to ban unhealthy foods, like sweets, cakes and hamburgers, from supermarket shelves and make McDonald's cover up its doors and windows, like some sex parlor? What next? Hasn't the government got more important things to solve? Why can't we have good dental health, or doesn't the government care about dental health? Is this another distraction from big problems like the economy, climate change, Iraq and Afghanistan, knife culture, to name but a few of the really pressing problems? If there is a clear example of why we need electoral reform, this government is it!

Dick, Durham, UK

Don't people have more pressing problems than this? Ban plastic bags, ban smoking. Of all the worlds problems these two are tame and easy targets. The world is full of porn and violent movies, doing damage to the minds of children and adults alike. Cars pollute the planet as does air travel, but what do we get ? All out war on bags and cigs. Talk about shooting fish in a barrel.

Dave b, york,

How many children buy cigarettes from a vending machine in a pub?

The Government's attack on rural England continues apace - country pubs have been ruined by the Smoking ban - everyone's outside. The high cost of a pint versus cheap off-licences compunds this.

Now we have shops having their post offices closed down and their other main money-spinner denied them.

All in the name of "Health" - how long before we have state-sponsored assemblies in the park to perform "approved" calisthenics?

We're being run by Brown's shirts.

J.Wilkes, Gloucester, England,

It's just a way of 'looking as though you are caring' while you still rake in stacks of cash on the product. Either take it off the market completely ( which they won't, because they get too much out of it) or clean up the product- dump the pesticides and poisons- and while you're at it- do the same with food.
Plus- look more deeply at why children turn to smoking, and change those paradigms.

Susan, Brighton, UK

If this"Minister" was really, seriously concerned about the state of the electorates health she would start by banning tobacco products entirely. It is now accepted that tobacco is more addictive than any Class A drug and costs the NHS Billions.
But then, of course, it does bring in huge amounts of revenue.
How about making the price of cigarettes so high only the wealthy can afford to buy them? I can see the "hoodies" now
lurking in multi-story car-parks waiting to mug a businessman for his cigarettes!

Jeffers, Maidstone, UK

whatever will the government bring in next, Go to asda/morrisons and have BMI scales at the end of the tills, if your BMI is over 30 take away all your chocolates pizzas cream cakes? or better still have small size turnstyles, in high fat contant areas, and large turnstyles down the fruit and veg isles?? This government wants to stop knife crime, having lost my only brother to murder through knife crime, a cigarette doesn't stab you to death in the take away at 12pm on a night, nor does it leave you scarred for life. Nor does it leave families in grief for the rest of theirs, This government wants to get it's priorities in order, and how come it's one rule for them, they can smoke in the bars in parliament, yet we who put them in the positions they are in, are told we cannot. I'm a non smoker and find it appalling when I have to travel abroad to Spain or France with my mum so she can have a cigarette with a pint, Sheer Bliss...... she's over 18, tobacco is not illegal.

beverley keenan, Blackpool, Lancashire

We already got rid of the vending machines here in the U.S years ago and the cigs are behind the counter but in clear view......but does seeing the cigs make the kids smoke or seeing their parents or older brothers and sisters make them want it more? Trying to be "older" or "grown up" is something we all did as young ones....it seems that there is a larger problem with the youth smoking in Europe than in the States.

T.Fergus, atlanta, usa

What difference is hidding the problem going to make, I am a smoker and its bad enough that I can't what I want when I'm out but to hide cigarettes just make the whole thing look dirty and making smokers the outcasts, I thought this was a free country?? obviously I am wrong, yes I may get ill in later life but that is why I have been paying Tax for ever to pay for the so called medical health, which oddly most of the NHS money probably comes from the stupid amount of tax we pay towards cigarettes and alcohol, I agree with Alex what is next under the counter pubs??

Tom, Canterbury, Kent

One of the greatest deterrents against smoking is to see the actual price displayed alongside each packet of cigarettes, so instead of hiding packets under the counter, it would be more effective if they doubled the size of each price label! Or why not be even cleverer and try negative advertising – like - Special offer - Lung Cancer and/or Bronchitis for less than £10 a day.

Brian Christley, Abergele, UK

I’m a change coach and an ex-smoker. I’ve helped many people become ex-smokers quickly and painlessly. The problem with these ideas is that they’re designed by non-smokers who don’t understand the psychology of smoking.

The new proposals can not work for the following reasons.

1: They are logical – smoking is illogical

2: Smoking is drug addiction NOT a habit so hiding cigarettes will have no affect. After all, illegal drugs are not on display yet it’s often easier (and cheaper) to by drugs than cigarettes.

3: Smokers are not addicted to cigarettes but to nicotine. Making nicotine replacement products more easily available is the most ridiculous and dangerous proposal of all. We don’t give cocaine to cocaine addicts or alcohol to alcoholics so why give nicotine to nicotine addicts?

Remember, the companies making nicotine replacement products make billions of pounds a year from supplying a drug. They are no more ethical than tobacco companies or drug dealers

Mark Sheppard, Retford, UK

How pathetic and ridiculous, they (state) need something to do
What about the mindless idiots that drink them selves into
oblivion every weekend and every chance they get, taking up
ambulances that sick people could use, and the abuse of
hospital staff,. Smokers get the backlash for everything inthis
country, this so called government wants to try and live in the
real world for a change. What about banning all alchohol
adverts and boycotting pubs how would that go down with
these people that have drink problems?

Ann Margaret A, Manchester, England

'The latest assault on smokers'. This bears no resemblance to an assault. This is merely a consultation. Even the most radical outcome will have a negligible effect on smokers. Is it really so bad to 'attempt to further limit children’s access to tobacco'?

Richard, Huntingdon,

Makes me laugh this one, two faced they are, first they make tons of cash out of baccy and fags,

the government cant live without it,

and then tell us not to smoke, if they are so worried why dont they put it on the banned drug list,

Me been smoking since I was 9 years old, 63 now and still alive, and smoking well.

Be better to force the cigerette makers to make fags with no rubbish in them, it's not tobacco that kills it is the chemicals they put in them.

Just the same as processed food, it is not the food part that kills it is the rubbish they mix with it.

John A, Wellington, UK

What comes next ?. Pubs and offlicences not allowed to have alcohol products on display ?. It would not surprise me with this government.

Alex, Darlington, UK

I can see people walking into a newsagent and being asked if they want 'anything for the weekend?'

another barking idea from a barking government.

we should be empowering our people, not forbidding them!

Nick Guyatt, Gosseldange, Luxembourg

good measure. Unfortunatelly I smoked for 30 years and I spend half of the amount that a flat does cost in tobacco. I quit smoking in 2005 .It is great if young men and woman do not start smoking in the first place.

peter42y, lisbon, portugal

Really intelligent Orwellian thinking. Kids will then buy ciggies from the street corner dealers who will then have more ready clients for coke, reefers, crack etc. - think it out Primarolo. You will also have the big supermarket chains on your backs, cheap ciggies are a big draw for them.

alan, benalmadena, spain

Surely, no teenagers would start smoking due to seeing cigarettes displayed behind the counter or in a vending machine. There is no evidence that all these anti tobacco measures have any impact. In fact, global consumption for tobacco products is growing. This is another example of the state get too involved at the expense of individual freedom. We all indulge ourselves at times. This makes life worth living. I don't smoke myself, but I make other life choices at times which may not be optimal for my health. Personal choice and freedom. I don't need the State to make these decisions on my behalf.

Paul, London, United Kingdom

I have never smoked, it is a filthy habit but what these Ministers and this Government are doing in the name of our health beggars belief. Ban this, ban that; these people haven't been in a country pub lately. There have been occasions over the past six months when I have been the only person in the pub whilst 20 others are standing outside; what an atmosphere! Now this. The cancer sticks are bought quite legally, what right do these people in power have to pass these directives without consulting the rest of us. Health grounds, bring on the evidence that passive smoking kills; I have never seen any. Those that gloat over the smoking ban will live to regret their decision when this lot start banning the things they enjoy: but by then it will be too late to do anything about it.

Brian Parsons, Lydney, Gloucestershire

The complete Nanny State. Hide the fags the kids are coming.If kids can find supplies of crack, amphetamines ectstasy even heroin then hiding the fags is an empty gesture .

Does anyone really believe a kid walks into a shop or supermarket sees cigarettes on display and says "I've got to have some of that"?

I had my first gasp when I was nine years of age and have nowpassed the three score and ten mark and I can assure you that putting cigs under the counter would not have made one iota of difference.

grant watt, glenning valley, australia

"Dawn Primarolo, the Minister for Public Health" - now there is an unreconstituted communist, if ever I heard of one. When she was in the Treasury she would defend any excuse for raising taxes and it seems her brief is now extended to include the nation's habits in the name of 'health'.

God help Britain when people like Primarolo have power. She and her type forget who are the masters and who the servants.

Edwin, Bucharest,