LONDON - Britain's new legislation that bans displays of tobacco product came into effect on Friday, in a bid to reduce the number of the country's smokers, especially the young ones.

According to the ban, all large shops and supermarkets in England will have to cover up cigarettes and hide tobacco products from public view.

The end of tobacco displays in shops is deemed effective to protect children from being the target of tobacco promotion and to help people quit smoking, backed by evidence that cigarette displays in shops can lure young people to start smoking, with nearly two-thirds of current and ex-smokers say they started smoking before they were 18.

"We cannot ignore the fact that young people are recruited into smoking by colorful, eye-catching, cigarette displays. Most adult smokers started smoking as teenagers and we need to stop this trend," Health Minister Anne Milton said.

"Banning displays of cigarettes and tobacco will help young people resist the pressure to start smoking and help the thousands of adults in England who are currently trying to quit," she added.

The move was welcomed by the National Children's Bureau (NCB), as Jo Butcher, program director of health and well-being at the bureau said: "Children and young people tell us that outside influences make it even more difficult for them to choose healthier lifestyles."

There are more than eight million people in England now keeping the habit of smoking. It is one of biggest preventable killers causing more than 80,000 deaths each year, according to the Department of Health.