Move part of £9m anti-smoking driveDoctors back proposed crackdown

Retailers attack SNP plan for cigarette display ban

By Scott Macnab and Joe Quinn

Published:

HIGH PROFILE: Cigarettes and other tobacco products would disappear below the counter under government proposals

A crackdown on tobacco sales announced yesterday by the Scottish Government triggered an angry reaction from retail chiefs, who said it would hit smaller shops in the pocket.

A medical chief and health campaigners backed the measures, which they said would move Scotland closer to a “smoke-free future”.

The proposed legislation would outlaw the display of cigarettes in shops.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said a ban on the sale of cigarettes in packets of 10 would also be considered.

Legal controls on the sale of tobacco will be updated and possible options for licensing – with sanctions that include cautions and fixed-penalty notices – will be studied.

The moves form part of a drive costing £9million over three years to discourage youngsters from smoking.

The minister told MSPs that although tobacco advertising was banned in 2002, there were “growing concerns” that public displays of cigarettes at points of sale were hindering efforts to “denormalise” smoking.

Smoking is responsible for about 13,000 deaths and 33,500 hospital admissions in Scotland each year.

The prospect of legislation to restrict the display of cigarettes met with a frosty reception from Andy Willox, of the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland.

He said: “Forcing thousands of small, independent shops to redesign their premises does not seem like the actions of government committed to sustainable economic growth.”

John Drummond, chief executive of the Scottish Grocers’ Federation, said the display of tobacco products was “essential” to allow customers to make a choice based on availability, price and brand and the cost of compliance with a ban would place a significant financial burden on small retailers.

Chris Ogden, of the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association, said: “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.”

The possibility of compulsory licensing came under fire from Scottish Retail Consortium director Fiona Moriarty.

Licensing

“Licensing would penalise all retailers, selling a perfectly legal product, for the failings of a few by adding a mass of costly and pointless bureaucracy,” she said.

Dr Andrew Buist, of the British Medical Association, said it was right that tackling “children’s addiction to tobacco” was a top priority of government.

“The BMA supports tougher point-of-sales enforcement such as a positive licensing scheme, supported by a wider strategy to reduce young people’s access to tobacco products,” he said.

The chief executive of anti-smoking group Ash, Sheila Duffy, said: “The promotional display of tobacco in retail outlets is one of the last remaining loopholes in the ban on tobacco advertising.”