MSPs set to vote to stub out cigarette displays in shops by 2013

Published on Tuesday 26 January 2010 21:50

A BAN on the display of tobacco in shops across Scotland is expected to be approved today by MSPs as part of a wide-ranging package of measures to reduce smoking.

MSPs from all parties have agreed with doctors that display bans are necessary to reduce the number of young people taking up smoking.

They argue that displays have taken over from traditional advertising in being the main weapon for marketing cigarettes with cleverly designed packaging.

The Scottish Parliament will today vote on the Tobacco and Primary Care Bill, which follows the success of the 2006 ban on smoking in public places.

The passing of another measure proposed in the bill, banning vending machines, is uncertain in what is expected to be a tight vote.

Industry representatives have warned that the vending machine ban will lead to many job losses in Scotland and that the Scottish Government has under-estimated the total. The National Association of Cigarette Machine Operators (Nacmo) has come up with a proposal for digitally operated machines that could only be used once bar staff have checked a customer's identity.

An amendment in today's bill by Labour MSP Rhoda Grant would allow vending machines to continue if they are upgraded to the digital models.

Nacmo has also warned that access to cigarettes for young people will be increased if they are sold loose behind the bar instead.

However, the SNP has rejected the idea and the Liberal Democrats and Greens are both expected to join them in voting the amendment down.

They argue that the new machines will not be able to stop access to cigarettes by underage smokers, especially in busy bars.

If passed, the move to ban the display of cigarettes will affect supermarkets from 2011 and small shops from 2013. It has faced stiff resistance from the tobacco industry, which says it will increase smuggling and the sales of illegal cigarettes.

HM Revenue & Customs estimated in a report that 61 per cent of handrolling tobacco consumed in Scotland is Non-UK Duty Paid, while the Irish Revenue Commissioners reported the seizure of 220 million illegal cigarettes in 2009.

It is argued that smuggling will rise even further because unmarked packages are more difficult to identify as frauds.

Daniel Torras, UK managing director of tobacco company JTI, warned: "Prohibition of this kind could significantly increase the sales of illegal tobacco by smugglers in Scotland who do not care what age their customers are."

Another controversial measure likely to go through is a ban on private companies running GP surgeries, with only the Conservatives opposing the proposal completely. Labour looks set to be defeated over an amendment allowing co-operatives to continue to run them.

But the move has been condemned by business groups.

CBI Scotland's assistant director, David Lonsdale, said: "This is one in a series of moves designed to squeeze out the private sector from providing public services, following earlier bans on firms from providing hospital catering and cleaning, prisons, and scrapping the privately run Stracathro treatment centre.

"This 'public sector good, private sector bad' mentality is unfortunate and misguided."