Leading public health researchers are urging the government to set a date to phase out the sale of cigarettes at supermarkets and other retailers, in a bid to reduce their availability.

The push comes as a Victorian Cancer Council survey found more than 52 per cent of people agree with phasing out cigarette sales at retailers.

Senior Researcher Menzies School of Health Research, Dr Marita Hefler, says tobacco availability should be “drastically reduced”.

“Two-thirds of smokers will die early because of their habit, and the way in which they die is miserable,” she told Tom Elliott.

About 12 per cent of Australians currently smoke and the federal government has a target of reducing smoking to five per cent by 2030.

“If we get there they’re (the government) going to have to be planning for that drop in revenue,” Dr Hefler said.

“What we’re actually saying is we need to start to set a date for, if not phasing them out completely, then drastically reducing supply.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the push to ban tobacco sales at retailers