Call to postpone ban on shops' tobacco displays

THE cost to shopkeepers of banning tobacco displays in shops could be almost five times higher than initial estimates.

The Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) is now calling for the deadline for implementing the ban in stores across Scotland to be delayed by a year.

Large retailers currently have until 2011 to implement the display ban and smaller shops have until 2013, in line with the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act, which was passed by MSPs earlier this year.

John Drummond, SGF chief executive, said today: "Ministers have suggested the cost of a ban for a medium-sized store would be around 320.

"We believe these costs have been severely underestimated. Discussions we have held with shop fitters show the likely costs of installing flaps over existing gantries will be at least 1,400.

"However, these costs would increase if finding a long-term retrofit solution for existing gantries proves challenging due to the restrictive dimensions of the permitted display area."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said last night that making cigarettes less attractive and available to children and young people is the key aim of the Act.

"The views of the SGF will be taken into account, along with those of other stakeholders," she said.