Shops use film to fight cigarette display ban

Published on Monday 27 April 2009 09:55

SHOPKEEPERS today launched a video appeal to MSPs to throw out plans for a ban on cigarette displays.

The Scottish Government wants to put tobacco products under the counter to reduce their attractiveness and availability to children and young people.

But the Tobacco Retailers Alliance claims forcing shops to hide cigarettes from public view will not cut youth smoking and could drive some shopkeepers out of business.

And today the alliance e-mailed a three-minute film to politicians, putting its case against the ban.

It features Edinburgh shopkeeper Abdul Qadar arguing the government's proposals are "the biggest threat to small independent shops since supermarkets".

And Fiona Barrett, Scottish spokeswoman for the alliance, tells MSPs the display ban is "not feasible". "Other countries have tried it and failed. The legislation could force us to close.

The retailers say that out of around 100 submissions received by the Scottish Parliament's health committee on the legislation, 56 opposed some aspect of the proposed tobacco regulations and 41 supported them.

Ms Barrett said: "We made this film as a way of speaking to politicians, because so far we do not feel the Government has listened to us. We are on the front line of selling cigarettes. We know what measures will work, what will be ineffective and what will force small shops out of business."