29th September 2009
PRESS RELEASE
SWA petition against tobacco display ban strikes a chord as over 10,000 support campaign backing Scotland’s independent retailers
THE Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has struck a chord with over 10,000 consumers in its efforts to convince the Scottish Government that it should throw out its proposed ban of the display of tobacco products in shops.
A paper and online petition launched this summer as part of a robust SWA campaign against current proposals to ban the display of tobacco products in shops has attracted thousands of signatures, most of them collected by retailers in their stores.
While stage one of The Tobacco and Primary Medical Services Bill (Scotland) has been passed by MSPs, the SWA remains upbeat and is urging people to sign the online petition which runs until 12th October.
Wholesalers were dismayed when the anti-smoking lobby group, ASH Scotland, launched a campaign to encourage members of the public to contact local shops directly to gain support for the removal of tobacco displays.
In July, SWA members – cash & carries and delivered wholesalers – responded to this move by ASH Scotland and distributed promotional posters to retailers, urging them to rally support from their own customers to help cushion their local store from the potential devastating impact of a tobacco display ban.
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, continue to believe that the proposals are “ill-conceived” and will do nothing to stop children smoking.
The Scottish Government, meanwhile, advised by medical experts, takes the view 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
Kate Salmon, SWA executive director, said: “We are delighted to have received well over 10,000 signatures on our petition so far – but we are by no means surprised.
“The response confirms our belief that the vast majority of Scottish consumers are responsible when it comes to purchasing tobacco, alcohol and other age-related products. They value the convenience and personal service that only their local store can offer and are fully aware that this could disappear altogether if independent retailers are forced out of business by this ill-conceived legislation.
“If these display ban proposals become law, retailers will incur substantial and unnecessary expense and have to pay around £1000 for counter redesigns. This comes at a time when the new licensing legislation has already caused some retailers financial hardship and the bureaucratic burden of yet more time-consuming form-filling.
“While we fully support the government’s aim of discouraging young people from smoking, we believe that an outright display ban will affect the livelihoods of small shopkeepers – our members’ customers – and could force many out of business.”
Meanwhile, the SWA has reiterated its previous concern that a tobacco display ban will encourage an increase in the trade of illegal tobacco products.
The SWA wants 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,” said Kate 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.”
Please sign the petition – before 12th October – at: http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=338.
The Bill now returns to the Health and Sport Committee for further scrutiny before a final vote in the Scottish Parliament. It is expected to complete its passage through the parliament by the beginning of next year. Large retailers will then have until 2011 to implement the display ban while small retailers will have until 2013.
For further information contact Kate Salmon on 0131 556 8753 or Karen Peattie on 0141 773 1801/07947 075 937
NOTE TO EDITORS
● The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) represents the interests of its members and the 15,000-plus people employed within the Scottish wholesale industry.
● Established in 1940, the SWA lobbies the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government on key issues affecting the trade and raise the funds necessary to carry out these activities effectively and comprehensively.
● The SWA’s current membership extends to almost 40 wholesalers, ranging from single depot, family-owned, Scottish-based businesses – many in remote parts of the country – to national wholesale groups operating 20-plus cash and carries north of the Border. Membership covers the independent retail, foodservice, catering and licensed on and off-trade sectors.
