01 May 2008


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Small retailers protest at plans to ban tobacco displays

Independent

tobacco

The National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) has written to health minister Dawn Primarolo expressing concern at the proposed bans on the public display of cigarettes in shops and on packs of 10 cigarettes.

In his letter, NFRN national president Colin Finch said: “The NFRN’s members are extremely concerned about these suggestions.”

On the proposal to prohibit packs containing fewer than 20 cigarettes, Finch said that many customers purchased these as a way of regulating their tobacco consumption.

“Most of these customers have expressed concerns at the suggestion that this will not be an available option to them any more,” he said.

Finch added: “Packs of 10 help customers to also regulate their spending on tobacco. However, if the product disappears it is very possible that these customers will be unwilling to pay the price for a legal pack of 20 and so turn instead to counterfeit tobacco products.”

Finch said that this move could prove more dangerous to public health and underage smoking as rogue sellers do not request proof of age from customers.

Banning tobacco gantries would have a serious impact upon security, he added.

As current displays are secure and lock down, theft is more difficult, he said.

In addition, any changes that retailers have to make to their shop as a result of the ban would have to be born by themselves – a cost that would be disproportionate for small retailers.

“Since the new position will also have to be secure, the costs really add up and this means that small and independent retailers are again put at a disadvantage.”

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