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Finland moves to ban smoking entirely

18 January 2010 18:31 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Soon anyone wanting to sell cigarettes in Finland will have to hide them under the counter. A ban on public display is one of several laws, including phasing out cigarette vending machines and banning smoking in cars with children, that the Finnish government hopes will lead to the end of smoking altogether in Finland, APA reports.

Finland has been legislating against tobacco since 1976, when a rise in cardiovascular disease prompted a ban on cigarette advertising. They banned smoking in indoor public areas and workplaces in 1995, and in restaurants in 2007.

Finland is moving towards eradicating smoking as it bans cigarette displays, vending machines and smoking in cars with minors.

The tobacco industry has already issued a formal complaint and made the argument that smoking was a matter of personal responsibility.