MOSCOW, April 12 (RAPSI) - Dmitry Nosov, a member of the State Duma Committee for Security and Anti-Corruption Measures, has submitted a bill to the State Duma to ban the sale of tobacco and cigarettes at night and in the early hours of the morning, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.

Under the bill, restrictions will be applicable between 11 pm and 8 am. The prohibition will not extend to retail sale of tobacco products at tax free shops.

The use of tobacco including cigarettes is a great threat to the public health, according to the lawmaker. Annually, over 300,000 people die in Russia from illnesses coming from tobacco consumption.

Nosov believes that such measure will lower consumption of tobacco products.

Similar steps have appreciably put down the use of alcohol, the lawmaker added.