Over 40% of shops are still willing to sell cigarettes to children, according to the latest figures from the Office of Tobacco Control. However that's an improvement on two years ago when almost half of shops were willing to break the law. It comes as the office announces the banning of all tobacco display and advertising in shops from July onwards, and the replacement of cash operated vending machines with token machines. OTC Chief Executive Éamonn Rossi says if shops are stricter on who they sell cigarettes to, underage smoking rates will fall.