ACS

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has today submitted a detailed response to the Government’s consultation on the regulations governing the proposed ban on tobacco display in shops. ACS remains opposed to the ban in principle, pointing out the weaknesses in the evidence that a ban would reduce youth smoking, and its response to the draft regulations calculates the costs of a ban under the current proposals as being far higher than Ministers suggested in Parliamentary debates during 2009.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Our evidence shows categorically that the costs of the ban for local shops have been severely underestimated.

“Throughout the passage of the bill through Parliament, Ministers have talked about a ‘light touch’ approach to these regulations, and have estimated the costs of the ban being between £210 and £850 per store. Our research, including detailed discussions with shop-fitters, shows the likely cost of installing flaps over existing gantries will be more than double the Government estimates, at around £1840 per store. We have also found that the proposal would cause significant problems for staff in their daily activities of serving customers and restocking. The slowing of service times in particular will harm customers and the costs of the ban would continue to grow over time.

“Having contributed unreliable estimates of the costs of a ban to the Parliamentary debates on the issue, the Government now must address these costs. The current proposals are anything but ‘light touch’ and follow the example of some of the most expensive display ban regulations used in Canadian provinces. Despite our opposition to the ban on the grounds that there is no evidence that it would be effective, we are engaging to try to find less expensive solutions, and our submission is a responsible attempt to reduce costs for the convenience industry.”

ACS has also written to Shadow Ministers explaining the costs of the ban, and has called for a full review of the evidence surrounding the proposed ban in the event of a change of Government.

Mr Lowman continued: “This debate is about effective tobacco control and meeting the principles of better regulation to support legitimate retail businesses. The display ban does neither of these things, and whoever forms the next Government must step back and take a fresh look at the evidence on all sides in order to meet these objectives.”

ACS’ submission will be available in full at www.acs.org.uk. In addition to calculating likely costs from the ban, the submission looks at regulations relating to re-stocking, the maximum area of requested display, the variety of available options for retailer compliance, maintenance of gantries, increased service time and the threat of injuries to staff.
 

Contacts:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs Director
01252 533009/ 07921 372978
Chris Noice Communications Assistant
01252 533013

Notes to Editors:
1. Parliamentary debates in which costs were stated by the Minister http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091012/debtext/91012-0017.htm
2. ACS original Future of Tobacco Control submission
http://www.acs.org.uk/en/lobbying/issues/tobacco/
3. ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) is the voice of local shops, representing over 33,500 convenience stores. ACS helps local shops thrive through lobbying, support and networking opportunities.