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ACS demands free vote on tobacco displays
Archived article dated Tuesday June 9th 2009
Backbench Government MPs should be given a free vote on whether to introduce a ban on tobacco displays, the Association for Convenience Stores is demanding.
The Health Bill seeks to impose strict limits on visible tobacco promotions in stores, including a ban on the traditional gantry displays. The Conservative Shadow Health Spokesman, Andrew Lansley, announced in yesterday's debate that his party would be allowing his MPs a free vote, while the Liberal Democrats have consistently stated that MPs will have a free vote on this issue.
Following yesterday's Second Reading of the Health Bill in the House of Commons, the ACS has called on all the Government to follow suit. The pressure group claims the move would mean harsh financial penalties for small retailers, both from lost sales and gantry removal costs.
“With each debate it becomes clearer that the Government is basing its case for a display ban on flimsy evidence,” says ACS chief executive James Lowman. “There is no analysis of the discreet impact of a tobacco display ban which points to this measure reducing youth smoking, with the Government still relying on evidence of the impact of a host of in-store marketing activity that is already banned in the UK. Yet the costs to retailers are clear, with the Government's own view that a display ban will cost an average of £1000 per store - with some paying much more.”
The Health Bill will be debated in Committee next week, with a vote of the whole House of Commons likely before the end of June.
“Retailers can still make a difference by writing to their MP stating the simple case that our sector has been making throughout this debate: that there is no evidence for the benefits of a display ban, yet the costs to retailers would be significant. A free vote would allow MPs to weigh up these arguments,” says Lowman.
Tagged as: Tobacco displays | Health Bill | ACS
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