THE Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) is spearheading a new campaign against the current proposals to ban the display of tobacco products in shops. Central to this initiative is a petition that SWA members are distributing to independent retailers so that their customers can help protect Scotland’s local stores.

Each store will also be provided with a poster highlighting the petition. Retailers are being urged to encourage their customers to sign the petition which will be submitted to the Scottish Parliament. All petitions must be returned to the SWA by 28^th August 2009 but you can also sign the petition here by 12th October 2009.

Leading wholesalers and cash & carries that supply Scotland’s independent retail stores, including JW Filshill, Booker, CJ Lang & Son, Bellevue, Batleys, United Wholesale Grocers, United Wholesale (Scotland) and Sutherland Brothers, believe that the proposals are “ill-conceived” and will do nothing to stop children smoking.

The Scottish Government, meanwhile, advised by medical experts, believes that an outright display ban of cigarettes and tobacco products at the point of sale will deter young people. Measures contained in The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services Bill (Scotland) include:

● Banning cigarette vending machines

● Banning tobacco displays in shops

● Introducing a registration scheme for retailers

● Giving trading standards officers powers to issue fixed penalty notices for retailers who sell cigarettes to under 18s

● Banning orders to prevent retailers selling cigarettes if they continually break the law

While the SWA fully supports the government’s aim of discouraging young people from smoking, the association has serious concerns that an outright display ban will affect the livelihoods of small shopkeepers – our members’ customers – and could force many out of business.

The SWA cites the “substantial and unnecessary” expense that will be incurred by retailers who will have to pay for counter redesigns – likely to cost a minimum of £1000, according to the Scottish Government.

Another concern is that store staff will take longer serving customers – potentially leading to lost customers and fewer sales.

Meanwhile, the SWA has already expressed concern that a tobacco display ban will encourage an increase in the trade in illegal tobacco products.

Kate Salmon, executive director of the SWA, said: “We want 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 legitimate businesses and law enforcement agencies to tackle the problem of the criminal trade in tobacco.

“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.”

The SWA will lodge its petition with the Scottish Parliament over the summer recess and it is hoped that the Public Petitions Committee will consider it in September.

Please download your petition and poster so that you are supporting your independent retail customers. You can read more about the wider tobacco display ban issue.