News story

Key information on tobacco displays

Implemented in large shops from 6 April 2012 and for all other businesses selling tobacco to the public on 6 April 2015

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 27 March 2012

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Evidence shows that the display of tobacco products in shops can promote smoking by young people and undermine the resolve of adult smokers who are trying to quit.

There are provisions regulating tobacco displays in the Health Act 2009 and related regulations which are being implemented in large shops from 6 April 2012 and for all other businesses selling tobacco to the public on 6 April 2015.

Retailers should contact their trade body or the trading standards department at their local authority for more information.

• A tobacco display information factsheet
• The regulatory impact assessment 

Tobacco display legislation

This is set out in the following, all of which are available with accompanying explanatory memoranda on www.legislation.gov.uk.

• Sections 6(A1),7A, 7B and 7C of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act, as inserted by sections 20 and 21 Health Act 2009.
• The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Display)(England) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/445).
• The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Display of Prices)(England) Regulations 2010 (S.I.2010/863).
• The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Specialist Tobacconists) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/446).
• The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Display and Specialist Tobacconists) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1256).  This amended the earlier regulations to defer the dates that the regulations come into force, until 6 April 2012 for large shops and 6 April 2015 for small shops and all other businesses selling tobacco products to the public.
• The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Display and Specialist Tobacconists) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/677).

Published 27 March 2012