UK display ban to be watered down, says Irish press

We've been waiting for confirmation from the UK press all day. This report was issued in the wee small hours. It indicates Government acceptance that a full display ban would damage tobacco retailers.

Negotiations are still ongoing. Did the Irish Times break a press embargo? The silence on this has been slightly eerie.

Note that this report puts the heart attack drop in England following the introduction of the smoking ban at 10 per cent. The official version is a drop of 2.4 per cent. (I like the amusing tag on the page: 'your health, your choices'.) Both claims are considered here.