Regulations banning the display of tobacco products in stores over 280 square metres in floor area came into force this week, and will be extended to smaller shops from 6 April 2015. The regulations have also ended sales from self-service tobacco vending machines.
A similar ban took effect for larger shops in England last year, where the measures will again be extended to all retailers from 2015. Wales and Northern Ireland have also introduced tobacco display bans.
The new regulations give effect to the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act, which prevents the display of tobacco products and smoking-related products in places where tobacco products are offered for sale. Stores that do not comply could be charged with a criminal offence or receive a fixed-penalty fine.
Litigation and compliance expert Audrey Ferrie of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, said that the regulations established "another layer of regulation with which retailers must comply".
"It will be interesting to see how rigorously the ban is enforced given the lack of resources available to local authorities," she said.