ACS

ACS has reacted angrily to the Government's announcement that they intend to require retail outlets to remove cigarette displays. This decision will lead to cost and disruption to tens of thousands of retail businesses of all sizes.

ACS has strongly opposed the Government’s proposals to introduce a tobacco display ban which ACS has estimated will cost around £5000 per store and up to £252 million for the local shop sector.

ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman said: “We have explained that implementing a tobacco display ban will cost our industry over £250million and concessions on a longer lead-in period will not allay our grave concerns. This announcement makes a mockery of Government claims to be the friend of small and local businesses.

“ACS will work with Government to explain the impacts of this change on retailers and will seek to reduce the costs that will weigh upon retailers.”

ACS has expressed strong concerns over the evidence base used by Government to support the ban. Experiences from the few countries and states which have introduced a ban provide no compelling evidence that a display ban leads to a reduction in smoking.

“It is deeply frustrating that whilst the Government is willing to treat dismissively robust evidence provided by experts here and abroad about the cost impact on retailers, they are willing to rely on inconclusive and flimsy evidence of the benefits of this measure.”

Mr Lowman also criticised the Government’s overall approach to the strategy consultation:

“Far from delivering the overarching bold strategy for the future of tobacco control which was promised by this consultation; Government has come up with a distraction that will divert attention and energy from measures that really could make a difference.

“What is needed is properly resourced interventions based on education of young people; effective deterrents against those adults that knowingly introduce smoking to young people and properly resourced policing of the multi-billion pound black market that is subject to almost no regulation at all."

Contacts:

Shane Brennan Public Affairs Director
01252 515001/ 07921 372 978

Nina Collins Communications Coordinator
01252 515001

Michael Saxton/ Grappa PR
Julie Kirby 020 7602 9222

Notes to Editors:

1. ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) is the voice of local shops, representing over 33,000 convenience stores. ACS helps local shops thrive through lobbying, support and networking opportunities.
2. Evidence from Iceland, cited by the Secretary of State Alan Johnson in comment alongside this announcement, shows that a series of measures including a ban on tobacco display appeared to lead to a 10% reduction in youth smoking. What was not made clear in this comment was that other measures introduced at the same time included working with parents and proxy purchasers to tackle the supply of tobacco to young people. These measures are backed by ACS as a more effective and less costly alternative to a display ban.
3. Evidence from California cited in the consultation suggested that in California advertising in shops increased young people’s likelihood to smoke by 50%. ACS consultation response explains the weakness of the study and the fact that the study focused on a range of marketing prohibited in the UK since 2004.
4. ACS’ consultation response estimates that the cost of installation for an average store would be a minimum of £1,850, but could reach as much as £5,000 if counter requires replacement.