Always impressive when a politician talks about 'startling' results. If there was really any evidence that these pointless measures worked he would have quoted them chapter and verse...

Emma, Maidstone, UK

haven't new labour yet realised that their insistance that they ,in their arrogance ,know best is exactly the reason that they lost bye election at Crewe

roscoe, luton,Beds..,

The government seems set on making these big steps, that look good and "aren´t we such a tough government", but actually do nothing. I'm in Spain, and most cigarette machines here have to be activated by barstaff to stop underage people buying them, which means you can be IDed. Clever!

Nick, Madrid, Spain

£12.6 Billion spent on cigs per annum. How much revenue to Government? Who will have to subsidise this lost of revenue?

Any research into exactly where most cigarettes are purchased?

Smokers are easy targets.

I wish Govt would put as much energy into tackling Crime and our Prisons.

RT, Newcastle upon Tyne,

If a product may be sold LEGALLY, it can be DISPLAYED legally.

If politicians REALLY want to discourage smoking, they can pass a law to ban it altogether.

Of course, the Treasury would lose out to the tune of £10 billion in lost tax, but isn't that a price worth paying?

Maurice F., Slip End, Bedfordshire, England

Typical nu_lab solution, no doubt creating an army of council enforcement officers to add to rates bills.
In Spain they have kept the cigarette machines. To buy a packet you ask the barman/ salesperson who switches on the machine using a tv-style zapper. It allows one sale then turns off. Simple!

martyn l, Wirral,

I don't smoke + my mother died from smoking.

Start in Scotland...spread to rest of UK.

What will this achieve. Nothing excepting diverting talk away from key issues....crime, education, taxes and expenses.

Also, if you wanted subsidised ciggies and beer, head for Parliaments bar...they are cheap.

Adrian, Whitehill, UK

I totally agree that cigarettes shouldn't be given such a prominent display in shops. What does it matter where you have to go in a shop to buy them - as a once hardened smoker I would willingly buy them at any price, from anywhere, and then smoke them in any weather! Come on, think of the kids.

Lois, Herts, UK

Can somebody please tell me where cheap alcohol is sold apart form in the House of Parliament in the subsidized bar? A pint of beer is now £2.80 or more, and mineral water is a fraction of that, unless as an MP you earn so much you buy "designer or label" water

Stephen wallin, Rochester, UK

Just scrap them altogether like they did the 10% band.

Tony, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

I'll light a cigar and raise a glass (and many more) when our Dave strolls into number 10 to wave off Nanny.

I gave up drinking six years ago and have never smoked.

Paul, West Midlands,

As a moderate smoker, I would rather buy packets of 10! They are not available out here in France and I smoke more as a result.

Tom, Paris,

If they wanted to remove cigarettes from display then why did they forced all smokers to stand on every street corner and in front of every pub to smoke in full view of the world. All ill thought out policies fail Mr Broon and smokers are voters too.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

This will simply make cigarettes seem more mysterious to teenagers, and therefore more exciting to smoke. I am a fairly heavy smoker and I have not bought from a vending machine in years. I either buy in advance from a supermarket or get them off the black market. Vile and meddlesome government.

J Washbourne, Stourbridge, England

Errmmm, excuse me if I'm being stupid here, but what are children doing in pubs on their own buying cigarettes from vending machines? The argument makes no sense at all. And when did children decide to smoke because they saw cigarettes on sale back in my day it was your peer pressure.

Riled of Ruddington, Nottingham, England

I don,t believe that this is just to protect underage smokers.They are trying to equate buying cigarettes with purchasing dirty mags.This wont be lost on anyone.Surely banning packets of ten will encourage moderate smokers to smoke more.What a bunch of roundheads new labour are.

lynne , Rushden,

Then mineral water is too expensive.

Darren, Maidenhead, UK

Erm, perhaps a touch of reading wouldn't go a miss before allowing your fingers to hit the keyboard? This is happening in Scotland, not England, you'll still be able to see your fags, don't fret, there is more to the UK than just Engerland! Oh, and it's a SNP Government here, not "Nu Labour"!

GS, Glasgow, Scotland

Who cares what this stupid minister thinks or proposes? New Labour is finished, and will be dragged from office in less than 24 months.

Kay Tie, York,

Looks like a lot of shop keepers will be claiming for industrial injuries due to bad backs. Maybe MPs expense claim forms should be kept under the counter in Westminster to deter fraudulent claims.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

Please make it clear for me. Thanks.

Cigarettes will no longer be available over the counter = cigarettes will still be purchasable from off-licenses and newsagents and petrol stations, but they won't be on display?

It doesn't mean you have to go to a chemist or some other appointed outlet to get your dirty fix?

From wikipedia: "Over-the-counter" [drug] -- medicine that may be sold without a prescription and without a visit to a medical professional, in contrast to prescription drugs.

DEC, Manchester, UK

Prohibition next. What a dull cheerless place Nu Labour Britain is becoming. Mind you we may get speakeasies with some hot jazz playing.

Dr Ian Burgess, Bristol,

Bloody typical of a government redundent of a sense of what the people really want. Prohibition never works. Have they ever stopped to consider that it may be Their policies that are fuelling this countries slide into despair?

Phil Austin, RAUNDS, England

Why will these perverts at Westminster not do what they were put there for, and try for once governing the country, instead of constantly shoving their unwelcome snouts into every tiny detail of every waking minute of our Labour-induced, miserable, existences?

John Lee, Ellesmere Portgrad, Cheshire

PS: Did I say That I cant wait to leave this country? " 2 years and dounting .... down!
Roll on the day!!!!!

Phil Austin, RAUNDS, England

Putting cigs under the counter will not stop youngsters getting hold of them any more than banning drugs stops there use. But they will now get hold of a pack of twenty instead of ten, do these ministers have no brains!! As for alcohol, perhaps the price of mineral water is too high not lager!

Dennis, Carlisle,

Yes, and it will be us smokers that hand you your P45 Mr Johnson

hewett, southampton, uk