Question

A 2012 report from the U.S. Surgeon General stated: "Another common practice is strategically locating tobacco-related marketing materials where young children will be exposed to them. Tobacco industry executives acknowledge that products and advertising should be placed at eye level (Pollay 2007), but in California, 48% of stores had at least one cigarette marketing item at or below 3 feet from the floor (Feighery et al. 2001)." It was also noted that 25% of cigarette displays were next to candy. In addition, a national study found that about one-third of the stores had tobacco ads at low heights. After California banned counter displays, some stores place cigarettes in a see-through display so product brands could still be seen. What is the main reason that states like California ban counter displays of tobacco products?

Answer 1

From the excerpt, it appears that states like California ban cigarette counter displays especially so as not to appeal to young people to smoke since they, unlike adults may not be so aware of the dangers of smoking to human health ie to the risk of lung cancer so I would say this would be the main reason. 

Answer 2

To discourage underage tobacco use by limiting the advertisement and product placement