A proposal to sell cigarettes in pharmacies is being labelled a stupid idea by a public health expert.

A raft of health advocates are calling for cigarettes be moved into tobacco stores and pharmacies removing them from dairies and petrol stations.

Massey University associate professor of public health, Doctor Marewa Glover told Andrew Dickens the whole idea's impractical.

"What we need to do is actually stop the hikes on tobacco tax, that's what's created this very lucrative very easy to steal and easy to sell product," she said.

LISTEN ABOVE AS MAREWA GLOVER SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING