Tobacco displays in supermarkets to be covered by 6 April
From 6 April 2012, large shops will no longer be able to display tobacco products to the public.
Customers will still be able to buy cigarettes in the usual way but the Government is ending tobacco displays to protect young people who are often the target of tobacco promotion. Large shops will be required to cover their tobacco displays, except on certain occasions, for instance when staff are serving customers, when they are carrying out stock control or cleaning. Ending open cigarette displays will help people trying to quit smoking and help to change attitudes and social norms around smoking.
There is likely to be significant media interest in the new legislation, and local services might like to consider how they can build on this interest, for example, by holding face-to-face events on 6 April, or working with local media to publicise local services.
Removing permanent tobacco displays is one initiative among many being delivered to help to reduce smoking uptake by young people and to support adult smokers who want to quit. The Government’s commitment to these aims is set out in Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England (published 9 March 2011).
Smaller shops will not have to cover up their cigarettes and tobacco products until 6 April 2015.
>> Guidance for retailers and local trading standards authorities is available on Businesslink.
>> Read the full press release on the Department of Health’s website.
>> Download the factsheet
Comments
More half measures from a spineless so called Conservative government. Like in most other matters they half heartedly “Bite the Bullet”. They need to learn “If the job is worth doing it is worth doing properly”.
Their aim is to reduce the pressure on the re-branded and failing NHS to save money but there are many other ways which could save the taxpayer money which they ignore because they would also suffer.
One major example is the use of Credit Cards by Civil Servants in all areas of National and Local Government and MP’s who also have cards plus subsidized food and Drink. No proper checks are carried out on their use and many compliment their salary by using them for personal purchases never mind the taxpayer.
There is no proper control of expenditure in any part of government because the taxpayer pays. A typical example was a re-branding exercise in one department. When the cost was queried the reply was “There was no cost to the taxpayer as it was done within our budget”.
I REST MY CASE.
From M. BERNARD, on 6. April 2012 07:30 - Reply
Ok so when are they going to cover up the real over the counter demon which tempts more children, leads to more problem behaviour, crime, and health problems- ALCOHOL?
From samantha hallwood, on 13. April 2012 14:24 - Reply