Anti-smoking group calls for industry to show advertising costs

TOBACCO companies should be forced to publish their spending on advertising and promotion, a city charity has said.

Anti-smoking lobbying group ASH said since billboard advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products was banned in 2003, large organisations have found other ways of selling their brand.

Chief executive Sheila Duffy said the Scottish Government should take steps to monitor the spending to prevent the number of new smokers in the country.

"They (tobacco companies] need to find new customers to replace the 49,000 smokers who will quit or die every year," she said.

"One of the ways to do that is through large promotional displays that take pride of place in our shops, garages and supermarkets."