New laws being considered by the Government will "deal the final death blow to the local Irish shopkeeper", a local trader has warned.

Stephen Daly, owner of Happy Days newsagent in the Galway Shopping Centre and member of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA), has been highly critical of the proposals to restrict the sale of tobacco, saying small newsagents will face higher costs and fewer customers if they are brought in.

The laws include a provision requiring retailers to put tobacco out of sight and under the counter.

"No-one will have a clue whether we even sell tobacco or not," said Mr Daly.

Under new rules, customers who want to buy tobacco will have to ask for a special menu.

As a result, shopkeepers fear that their turnover will be dramatically reduced as frustrated customers queue to view a menu and then wait while the shopkeeper retrieves the tobacco.

According to the CSNA, research from Canada has shown that this system does not reduce smoking levels and merely drives customers to big supermarkets instead.

"Our shops are all about speed and convenience for the customer," said Mr Daly.

"If you take that away, you are destroying our business model and taking the last advantage we have left."

Shopkeepers say there is already a simple solution. The Bill passed by the Dáil that restricts tobacco advertising does not insist that all products are put out of sight; it allows for a single example pack of each product to be displayed behind the counter to provide customer information.