Government reminds retailers on upcoming curb on tobacco displays
With just 100 days to go before tobacco displays in supermarkets must be removed, the government is reminding retailers that they need to start getting their shops in order.
From 6 April 2012, large shops will no longer be able to display tobacco products to the public except on occasions for instance when staff are serving customers or when they are carrying out stock control or cleaning.
Customers will still be able to buy cigarettes in the usual way but the government said it is ending tobacco displays to protect young people as it believes they are often the target of tobacco promotion.
Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies said: “We cannot ignore the fact that young people are recruited into smoking by tobacco promotion.
“Ending tobacco displays in shops will protect young people from unsolicited promotions, helping them resist the temptation to start smoking. It will also help and support adults who are trying to quit.”
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) added: “Removing these displays is a critical element of the government’s comprehensive strategy to protect children from the harm caused by tobacco. Retailers have nothing to fear, the evidence from Ireland when the legislation was implemented there was that committed smokers still knew where to buy cigarettes and didn’t need to see the displays to decide what they wanted to buy.”
