Retailers may be forced to remove cigarette displays from their stores under the latest push to cut smoking.
The new proposals also include a ban on cigarette vending machines in pubs and restaurants serving under 18 year olds and measures to make it easier to sell nicotine replacement gum and patches.
Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, told the BBC: "We want to protect our young people, so we have to look at all of our responsibilities - retailer, government, producer, families, individuals, how we can discourage them from starting to smoke in the first place.
"If that means stripping out vending machines or removing cigarettes from behind the counter, I'm willing to do that."
The Government are keen to prevent youngsters from taking up the habit, citing research findings that people who start smoking at the age of 15 are three times more likely to die of a smoking related illness than someone who starts in their late 20s.
A public consultation on the new proposals is due to start in May.
The new proposals also include a ban on cigarette vending machines in pubs and restaurants serving under 18 year olds and measures to make it easier to sell nicotine replacement gum and patches.
Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, told the BBC: "We want to protect our young people, so we have to look at all of our responsibilities - retailer, government, producer, families, individuals, how we can discourage them from starting to smoke in the first place.
"If that means stripping out vending machines or removing cigarettes from behind the counter, I'm willing to do that."
The Government are keen to prevent youngsters from taking up the habit, citing research findings that people who start smoking at the age of 15 are three times more likely to die of a smoking related illness than someone who starts in their late 20s.
A public consultation on the new proposals is due to start in May.
