Opinion wanted: Should public display of cigarettes be banned?

Now you see it, soon you won't? If this proposed amendement to Singapore's Tobacco Act is passed, it could snuff out sales of tobacco in the city — if not to the current generation of smokers, then to younger people who grow up without exposure to this type of visual merchandising. According to a media release by the Ministry of Health, it is currently holding a week-long public consultation for amendments that include making it illegal for stores to display cigarette packs. Vendors, however, will still be allowed to show customers a text-only price list of brands on sale. "This is so customers will not need to request to view the tobacco products within the storage units for an extended period of time, reducing the period which other customers are exposed to tobacco," the proposed amendments state. The Tobacco Act — in place since 1993 and last revised in 2011— bans advertisements, promotions and sponsorships relating to tobacco products and their use. In Asia, Australia and Thailand both have tobacco display bans. The public can submit feedback on the proposed amendments here: www.moh.gov.sg/tcasa2015. Or you can tweet it to @coconutssg. Photo: Indahnesia.com   Done reading? Sit back, relax and watch Coconuts TV:   brightcove.createExperiences();