'Threat to corner shop' as MSPs vote to ban cigarette displays

Published on Wednesday 27 January 2010 21:57

CORNER shops across Scotland could struggle to stay in business after MSPs voted to ban cigarette displays, it was claimed last night.

The ban is part of a package of measures being brought in to try to stop young people from taking up smoking. MSPs also increased the minimum smoking age from 16 to 18 and outlawed cigarette vending machines.

The display ban will come into force in 2011 for large shops and 2013 for small shops.

It was passed by 103 votes to 14, with only the Conservatives voting against, despite lobbying by retailers and the tobacco industry.

Ahead of the vote, MSPs were warned by the industry that the ban would lead to an increase in smuggled tobacco and blur the lines for smokers in knowing which packets were legal and which were illegal. It was also claimed there was no evidence to link display bans with a drop in smoking, despite them being introduced in Ireland and Canada.

Groups representing shopkeepers said the ban would have a disproportionate financial impact on their members.

The Scottish Government's own estimate was that it would cost a small retailer 1,200, a medium-sized business 6,000 and a supermarket 17,500.

The Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF), whose members mainly run medium-sized convenience stores, said they would suffer but survive. However, it warned smaller businesses could struggle with the impact of the costs and potential loss of trade.

The SGF also challenged the Scottish Government's claim that the tobacco industry would pay for changing displays, pointing to evidence from Ireland that only large businesses received help.

SGF chief executive John Drummond said: "SGF agrees with the Scottish Government that young people should not smoke and should be actively discouraged from doing so.

"However, we believe there are better ways of achieving this than banning the display of tobacco in small shops. The evidence that a display ban affects smoking rates is weak."

The Conservatives put down an amendment at Holyrood to stop the ban, but it was heavily defeated. Their health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon had argued the legislation would hit small businesses already struggling with the effects of recession.

"The fact is, the evidence base does not exist to support this ban," she said.

After the vote, public health minister Shona Robison said: "I believe it's wrong that a dangerous product like cigarettes should be prominently displayed in shops, where children can see them from an early age, or available from self-service vending machines.

"That's why I'm pleased that MSPs have today backed this bill, which will prevent some of today's children from becoming tomorrow's smokers. Too many Scots' lives have already been prematurely lost to smoking-related diseases. I'm determined to do all I can to cut this death toll."

For some, the ban did not go far enough. A move by Labour health spokesman Richard Simpson to close a "loophole" by also banning tobacco branding on lighters and other items failed.