While earlier calls to criminalise underage possession of tobacco and to ban liquorice pipes, which are considered to encourage youth smoking, were not included in the proposal, the ministry wants to ban shops from displaying cigarettes.
"A visible display of tobacco products in stores would be banned," said Health and Social Services Minister Paula Risikko.
If the bill passes parliament, cigarette vending machines would also be prohibited, she said, adding that customers interested in buying tobacco could ask a store clerk to see a list of available products and prices.
The proposal includes no mention of forcing television shows, films and theatre productions to be written without scenes of people smoking, a suggestion which recently raised controversy.
Meanwhile, the proposal allows bringing 30 cartons of the chewing tobacco “snus” into the country for personal use. However it would be forbidden to sell it or pass it to others.
State Coughs up Big Money for Smoke-related Illnesses
Risikko says tighter tobacco law are needed, pointing out that smoking causes illnesses that cost Finland around two billion euros each year. Taxes on tobacco products meanwhile only generate about 600 million euros in state income annually.
Advertising of tobacco products is already illegal in Finland and the new law proposal also aims to ban all sponsorship by tobacco companies, including donations to charities.
"We want to pay special attention to youths. The aim is to cut down the number of smokers and get smokers to quit," Risikko said.
In 2007 around one million of Finland's some 5.3 million inhabitants smoked, according to statistics from the National Institute for Health and Welfare.
The tobacco bill is expected to come before Parliament this spring.
