A WORLD-FAMOUS tobacconist has hit out at the recent ban on cigarette advertising.

James Barber, owner of Barber's Tobacconists on Kirkgate, Otley, says the ban on advertising brought in on St Valentine's Day will hit businesses rather than influence smokers.

And still unsure about the finer details of the legislation, he says if it is expanded to internet advertising, it could mean the end of Barbers in Otley.

Mr Barber, who counts Sir James Savile amongst his customers, carries out the majority of his business though the internet.

He said: "The majority of my business comes from abroad - and from word of mouth recommendation, so I'm not sure what effect this ban will have.

"The ban has been brought into place without the people in the trade receiving any information, so we are not even sure what this ban will mean. We are not on a level playing field anyway compared to the rest of Europe because of duty tax, so this can only make business more difficult.

"If internet trading is banned we would have to close."

The specialist tobacconist will no longer be able to advertise cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco products in the window of the shop.

Although the ban is particularly aimed at cigarette advertisements, it also covers the promotion of any tobacco product as well.

Mr Barber fears the government will turn its attention next to internet promotion.

He said: "People don't smoke because of advertising. Advertising influences the brand people buy, so this will hit business rather than cut the number of smokers."

The ban will put an end to any promotion of tobacco including collector's items such as cigar boxes and posters - many of which have become design classics.

Mr Barber said: "Cigarette advertising has been an art form forever. A lot of it is very collectable. It's a shame that that will be gone forever."

The ban means that window advertising is out, no free samples are allowed to be given and even price comparisons are illegal under the new law.

Mr Barber said: "I'm not allowed to list my prices in comparison to anyone else's as this is seen as me promoting smoking in terms of it being cheap.

"I can see the day I have to have my window blacked out."

Mr Barber continued: "Alcohol causes more death per year than smoking yet there is no ban on that.

"They are moving towards making drugs legal yet banning tobacco advertising. Smokers only harm themselves and the tax they pay more than covers any health costs."

Director of smoker's pressure group Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (FOREST), Simon Clarke has said that young people are motivated to start smoking by peer pressure not advertising and therefore the ban is a "pointless, political gesture."

But the British Medical Association have welcomed the ban and head of science and ethics at the BMA, Dr Vivienne Nathanson has called for the government to go one step further and ban smoking in public places.