I agree, and the cost of shutters to hide them borne by shopkeepers - apparently about £15 million in total.  In context with alcohol being openly for sale it makes no sense to me.

Outside pubs I see teenagers (and adults) hurting others - starting fights etc because they are drunk and aggressive. At least if they smoke they are only damaging themselves, and I rather suspect that the amount of binge drinking that goes on is causing more acute damage sooner than smoking.

I doubt that hiding tobacco wil make any difference; recreational drugs are not visible or openly for sale but that doesn't stop a large proportion of teenagers using them.