Smoking display ban is upheld

One of the world's biggest tobacco companies has lost its legal fight to overturn a ban on the open display of cigarettes in shops.

Britain's Supreme Court today dismissed Imperial Tobacco's claim that the Scottish Government had exceeded its powers by approving the prohibition. The company argued there was no credible evidence that display bans have cut tobacco consumption. Michael Matheson, the Scottish Public Health minister, welcomed the judgment. "These bans will play a crucial role in preventing young people from taking up smoking," he said.