ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers about the upcoming ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes which comes into force in one month, despite the ongoing situation with the coronavirus outbreak.
From 20th May 2020, it will be an offence for manufacturers to produce menthol cigarettes and retailers to sell menthol cigarettes as part of the European Union Revised Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU).
The ban also applies to capsule, click on, click & roll, crushball or dual menthol cigarettes. The ban does not apply to heated tobacco products or e-cigarette products. There is no sell through period, which means that retailers must have sold through any remaining stock of menthol cigarettes by 20th May 2020.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “It is very disappointing that the government has not given longer for retailers to comply with these changes in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic. As well as operational problems with running stores, there are specific challenges with getting products out of stores when there aren’t the usual visits into stores by retailers’ and wholesalers’ support teams, and from manufacturers. We are continuing to raise retailers’ concerns with government, but we should prepare for this change to come into effect on 20th May.”
ACS has developed guidance for retailers with information on products included in the ban, when it will be introduced, penalties for non-compliance and how to communicate the ban with customers. ACS has also produced a poster for retailers to display in-store to help communicate the menthol ban to customers.
For more information, including FAQs about the ban, please visit https://www.acs.org.uk/advice/menthol-ban
Listen to the ACS team discussing the menthol ban here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7481084-menthol-ban-mythbuster
