Irish Retailers Report Confusion & Disruption from Tobacco Display Ban
ACS has published findings of a study which probes the experience of independent retailers complying with the display ban in the Republic of Ireland. The findings show that the ban is unpopular, ineffective and has created significant confusion among retailers.
Key findings from the report include:
• The biggest compliance costs and burdens are experienced by the smallest retailers.
• Irish Retailers tend to see the ban as unnecessary and compliance as a burden.
• Over half of independent retailers received no financial help from tobacco companies and over 90% receive no ongoing support.
• The overriding customer reaction seems to be not to notice the change at all.
ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “At this early stage the Irish experience is one of confusion and disruption. The Irish market place is one tenth the size of the UK. Given this fact, it would be fair to assume that problems in the UK are likely to be at least ten times bigger than in Ireland.
“There has been a repeated suggestion that retailers can expect tobacco companies to step in and foot the cost of the changeover, however, our findings show that this is not the case.
“The display ban is a policy gimmick that imposes costs and disruption on local shops, affecting the smallest businesses the most. It distracts public policy from a range of measures that would bear down on youth smoking such as proper sanctions for adults who supply tobacco to children and tackling the pervasive illegal market.”