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Health campaigners have welcomed today's announcement that the health secretary will implement legislation banning shop displays of cigarettes.
In a statement to parliament, Andrew Lansley also announced further work to explore the plain packaging of tobacco products and "specific ambitions to reduce smoking prevalence by the end of 2015".
"We know that teenagers are susceptible to experimenting even when there is clear evidence of the dangers," he said.
"We believe that eye-catching displays encourage young people to try smoking.
"They also undermine quit attempts by adults by tempting them to make impulse buys of tobacco."
The announcement of a ban on cigarette shop displays has been welcomed by heart and lung charities, but retailers said there is no evidence it will work.
Betty McBride, director of policy and communications at the British Heart Foundation, said:
"The coalition government has been under enormous pressure from a tobacco industry hell-bent on derailing important legislation banning tobacco displays in shops.
"Today is a victory for health campaigners and show of strength from health secretary Andrew Lansley.
"Though we're slightly disappointed the display ban is being delayed, it will help prevent the industry from marketing their products to children and will go a long way to helping young people avoid a lifetime of addiction and health problems.
"The introduction of plain packaging would complement the ban and signal the end of slick, colourful designs used as 'silent salesmen.'"
The British Lung Foundation also welcomed today's announcement.
Miranda Watson, the director of communications for the charity, said putting tobacco out of sight in shops "will go a long way to ensuring that young people are not tempted to start smoking in the first place".
She added: "We are pleased that the government has recognised the need to tackle smoking around kids in the car but given the numbers of children who are exposed to smoke in this way, raising awareness will not solve this problem on its own."
Retailers have questioned the logic of banning shop displays while still discussing plain packaging.
The British Retail Consortiumis calling for the law on tobacco to be brought into line with alcohol.
BRC food director Andrew Opie said:
"It doesn't make sense to enact one part of this plan while another is still under discussion.
"Banning shop displays of cigarettes in plain packets is pointless duplication.
"What should be looked at is the influence family members and friends have on youngsters' decisions to start smoking, and their access to tobacco."
The BRC also said there is no evidence that a ban on shop displays will make a difference to smoking habits.
Lansley warned that "eye-catching displays" encouraged young people take up smoking and as the addiction is largely taken up in childhood and adolescence it was crucial to reduce the number of young people taking up the habit in the first place.
"Each year in England an estimated 320,000 children under 16 first try smoking and the majority of adult smokers were smoking regularly before they turned 18 years of age," he said.
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