Exciting times are afoot as we discover that UK traders will soon be banned from displaying cigarettes in shops in the government’s latest bid to reduce the number of under-age smokers.
In a true battle of the wills, one of the country’s leading QCs Lord Pannick advised the government to inform the European Commission before passing any laws that would prohibit the display of cigarettes in stores.
Lord Pannick’s concern is that without the legal weight lent by Brussels having approved the Bill before being voted upon in Parliament, there would be unenforceable legislation in place.
Under the new UK Health Bill, shops will be prevented from selling tobacco products unless they are stored completely out of sight from the public.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has voiced concerns that the new law would encourage black-market tobacco trading and risk the livelihoods of smaller businesses who would be impacted by the necessary costs of shop refits, new equipment and an impact on increased serving times for staff and store security.
Further to this, pubs and restaurants serving cigarettes from vending machines will be charged with having to verify customers’ ages before activating the release of packets via remote control. Very swish, but is it necessary?
Interestingly, James Lowman, the chief executive of ACS believes that the display ban is purely a “policy gimmick” that would cause unwarranted costs and disruption to retailers as there’s been no evidence provided to suggest that the widespread move would actually have any effect on preventing young people from taking up smoking.
The Tobacco Retailers Alliance of small shopkeepers also claims that the retail design change would cost them up to £5,000 each and that one in ten would be forced to close. Although position the financial costs against the cost of life saved by estimates that the ban would help to reduce the 87,000 deaths a year caused by smoking in England and protect the 200,000 children aged 11 to 15 who are regular smokers.
Anti-smoking campaigners pushed hard for the bill to move through Parliament quickly, arguing that was no need for the European Commission to be notified.
In addition to this, there have been claims that small businesses in the Republic of Ireland where the ban was introduced in July have profited from being able to make use of the in-store display space previously occupied by cigarette point-of-sale stands.
Either way, it’s an interesting, but heated debate.
Source
Great Blog, Mate! I am always on the prowl for new and interesting sports sites and posts… which is what led me here. I certainly plan on visiting again! Adios
Good work, keep us posting, you are very good writer.
Thanks for share, please keep us posting about this info. I’d like to read it more.