Petition lodged against government tobacco plans

Independent retailer and national spokesperson for the Tobacco Alliance's Responsible Retailers initiative Ken Patel argued that the move may damage competition.

He stated that smaller retailers may struggle if they are not allowed to display cigarettes and the like on the wall behind the counter.

"Forcing tobacco under the counter means shops like mine would have to shell out for a special unit, and in the current business climate most of us do not have thousands of pounds to spare," he said.

He urged independent retailers to log onto the Downing Street Website and make their views heard to Gordon Brown.

Legislation that already exists should instead be enforced with greater prowess and proxy purchasing of tobacco by youngsters ought to be clamped down on, Patel commented.

The tobacco petition can be read here.