Banning cigarette displays helps prevent young people from taking up smoking, University of Otago research has found.
The research, led by Lindsay Robertson, of the university's Cancer Society Social and Behavioural Research Unit, also found that ending the display and promotion of cigarettes and tobacco in shops helped keep quitters on track.
The research reviewed all studies published since 2008 that investigated the relationship between tobacco promotion in retail stores and smoking.
Of the 20 studies reviewed, nine specifically examined children and adolescents, and each found that the more often young people saw tobacco displays or promotions in retail stores, the more likely they were to smoke.
Miss Robertson said the evidence showed not having tobacco on display changed the way young people thought about smoking by making them ''see it as being less common''.
''This finding is very important because we know that the less common smoking is seen to be, the less likely young people will smoke.''
For adult smokers, exposure to tobacco displays in stores appeared to increase the risk of impulse tobacco purchases, as well as smoking.
''Smokers are more likely to persevere with a quit attempt if they are not tempted by tobacco displays when they go into a shop.''
New Zealand enacted legislation to prohibit the display of tobacco in shops and other outlets such as bars in July 2012.
