Philip Morris sues Irish government on tobacco ban
Times: Tobacco giant Philip Morris International is to launch a legal action against the Irish government over its ban on the display of cigarettes in shops.
The owner of leading brands including Marlboro and Chesterfield believes the rule is anti-competitive. The group may also sue the UK if the government goes ahead with a plan to introduce a similar clampdown.
The restriction on displaying tobacco products on shelves came into force in Ireland on July 1 and a similar prohibition is being discussed in the UK. If passed, a ban would become law in 2011. The governments of both countries believe forcing shops to stock cigarettes under the counter, where they cannot be seen by consumers, is an effective measure to combat the problem of teenage smoking.
Similar bans have previously been introduced in Canada and Iceland but critics of such schemes claim they do little to discourage young people from the habit.
