July 2009

PRESS RELEASE

Wholesalers slam ASH Scotland’s ‘hugely irresponsible’ approach in encouraging public to pressure shopkeepers on tobacco display ban

WHOLESALERS have said they are dismayed by the “hugely irresponsible” campaign by ASH Scotland to encourage members of the public to contact local shops directly to gain support for the removal of tobacco displays.

The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA), which is spearheading its own campaign and petition against the current proposals to ban the display of tobacco products in shops, believes that ASH Scotland is “out of touch” with the small shops sector and has failed to consider the potentially devastating impact of an outright display ban on retailers’ livelihoods.

SWA members are distributing a petition to independent retailers so that their customers can help protect Scotland’s local stores. The Association believes that the proposals in The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services Bill (Scotland), which include banning tobacco displays in shops, introducing a registration scheme for retailers and giving trading standards officers powers to issue fixed penalty notices for retailers who sell cigarettes to under 18s, are “ill-conceived” and will do nothing to stop children smoking.

ASH Scotland’s approach to getting its pro-display ban message across is to encourage the public to “take our message direct to shopkeepers and counter the misinformation from the tobacco industry” through its recently launched Pride of Place? campaign. The organisation’s chief executive, Sheila Duffy, has stated that ASH Scotland wants people to write to the shops and retail outlets they use regularly, stating why they support a ban.

Kate Salmon, SWA executive director, said: “ASH Scotland’s approach is hugely irresponsible and damaging. Local shops are at the very heart of communities the length and breadth of Scotland and, in many cases, are struggling in the current uncertain economic climate.

“A tobacco display ban will force these retailers to incur yet more costs to their businesses at a time when they need help and support. Our fear is that the Scottish Government, by imposing yet more legislation on a retail sector already under fire, is putting an unnecessary burden on Scotland’s hard-working and committed small retailers.

“Let’s remember that tobacco is a legal product and the vast majority of retailers sell it responsibly. ASH Scotland maintains that removing tobacco from display will not affect retailers’ footfall but, in many stores, tobacco products account for around one-third of sales. What’s more, they could lose out on incremental sales as customers tend to pick up newspapers and soft drinks, for example, when they are purchasing cigarettes and tobacco.

“ASH Scotland appears to be dangerously misinformed about the implications of a ban for the independent retail sector and it is disappointing that the organisation has resorted to such aggressive tactics.”

Meanwhile, the SWA fully supports calls by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) to make it illegal for adults to buy tobacco products for children in the same way that it is already illegal for adults to buy alcohol for young people aged 18 or under.

“We wholeheartedly support proof of age cards, such as the CitizenCard or Young Scot card and we are 100% committed to working with the SGF, legitimate businesses and law enforcement agencies to tackle the problem of the criminal trade in tobacco,” said Salmon.

“But we do not believe that a display ban will have the intended effect of stopping children from having access to tobacco products and the Scottish Government should work on better solutions such as making it illegal for adults to buy on behalf of those who are underage, better use of ID schemes and more resources to stop the illicit trade in tobacco products.”

Commenting on the launch of the ASH Scotland campaign, John Drummond, chief executive of the SGF, said: “Our members support the Scottish Government’s objective of reducing youth smoking. However, any regulations which incur a cost must be supported by sound and compelling evidence.

“If the Scottish Government wanted to tackle this issue in a serious manner, rather than primarily focusing on retailers to reduce youth smoking they should ensure adequate resources were available to target the shocking level of tobacco available on the black market and make it an offence for adults to provide tobacco to under 18s.”

Copies of the SWA’s petition and a poster for display in shops are available from Kate Salmon on 0131 556 8753.