22 May 2008


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Tobacco retail groups slam Scots display ban plans


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Tobacco groups have spoken out against the proposals announced yesterday by the Scottish Government to ban the display of cigarettes and tobacco in retail stores.

The measures – which also include licensing of tobacco retailers – are designed to deter young people from taking up smoking.

Responsible Retailers, a campaign group backed by the Tobacco Alliance, welcomed elements of the plan, including increased enforcement of the under-age sales laws and a crackdown on the black market in tobacco.

But it opposed plans to ban the display of tobacco and stop the sale of 10s packs of cigarettes.

Fiona Barrett, Scottish representative of Responsible Retailers and a retailer from Glasgow, said: “The suggestion that youngsters will stop smoking just because they don't see tobacco being sold in shops is ridiculous.

“I don't think young people start smoking just because they see it in a shop. They are influenced by their peers, by their family members who smoke, and even by seeing celebrities smoke.

“If tobacco has to be kept under the counter it could make it seem rebellious to buy and therefore more attractive to some teenagers.”

She added: “Responsible shopkeepers like me do not sell tobacco to under-18s. Whether the tobacco is behind or below the counter will not make a scrap of difference in that respect. It would however, cost me thousands to re-fit the shop.

“Tobacco is kept behind the counter for a number of reasons including security, so that I can easily serve customers and so that my adult customers can see the range on offer and the prices.”

Edinburgh retailer Abdul Qadar commented: “It would seem that these proposals have not been properly thought through, because I fail to see how these measures would reduce youth smoking at all. Common sense should tell us that out of sight does not mean out of mind.”

“Taking the tobacco off display would cost shops like mine thousands of pounds to implement. That's a lot of money for a small business, especially one that is already struggling to survive when business conditions are already tough enough for us to be able to compete on the high street.”

“Also, the proposal to ban 10s packs is completely illogical to me. If you want an obese person to eat less chocolate, do you only sell it in large bars? Adult smokers buy 10s packs to regulate their consumption.”

“I would urge the Government to adopt an approach which supports and assists retailers rather than press ahead with these proposals which will damage small shops. We can reduce youth smoking without the need to threaten small businesses.”

Chris Ogden, director of the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association, said:

“We welcome the recommendations on more effective enforcement of tobacco sales and the increased emphasis on youth smoking prevention. However, we believe that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that banning displays of tobacco products at the point of sale will deter young people from taking up smoking.

“We believe that our industry should be appropriately regulated. However, any regulation must be fair, proportionate and must strike a balance between pursuing public health policy objectives and at the same time allowing adults the freedom of choice to smoke and the right of retailers to display what is a legal product.

“We agree that children should not smoke and should be discouraged from doing so. We remain committed to proof-of-age programmes as the most effective way to stop children accessing cigarettes.

“We actively support retailers in enforcing the new minimum legal age of 18 for the sale of tobacco by means of age verification materials like CitizenCard and No ID No Sale.

“Penalties for retailers who sell to young people and stronger enforcement by Trading Standards officers are more effective ways to prevent underage sales than banning display at point of sale.

“If the Scottish Parliament wishes to explore these proposals we ask that they consult and engage with the tobacco industry and the retailers - who are aware, more than anyone, of the unintended consequences many of these actions may cause.”

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