• Plus reaction to Queen’s Speech

The Tobacco Retailers’ Alliance has launched a campaign to enable independent retailers to respond to the consultation the Government has recently started in to the plain / standardised packaging of tobacco products.

It's Time To Let The Government Know What You Think!

As you may be aware, the Government is looking at introducing the plain packaging of tobacco products. Plain packaging (or standardised packaging as it is also known) will involve the removal of the branding from all tobacco products. You will only be able to differentiate between the products by the small printed name of each brand in identical regulated format at the bottom of each pack.

(Above you can see an example of a plain packet of cigarettes currently being considered in Australia, plus below that an image of how a gantry there might look)

We think plain packaging will:

• Be another burden on shops in addition to the display ban
• Introduce further restrictions on shops when the effects of the display ban are unknown
• Make customers focus more on price and affect your turnover
• Increase transaction times and impact your customer service
• Fuel the black market by making packaging easier and cheaper to copy

Here's how to let the Government know your views. Either:

1.Click on this link:

http://consultations.dh.gov.uk/tobacco/standardised-packaging-of-tobacco-products/consultation/intro/view

2. Or if it's easier just email your views to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

3. Or if you prefer, post your thoughts to:

Tobacco Packs Consultation

Department of Health

7^th Floor, Wellington House

133 – 155 Waterloo Road

London SE1 8UG

But Do It Soon! You only have until 10 July to get your views across.

Members of the Tobacco Retailers Alliance have reacted angrily to the revelation that the Government is only making available its consultation documents on standardised tobacco packaging in English and Welsh.

Shopkeepers across the UK have expressed their disappointment that the Government is to launch on Monday (16 April 2012) a public consultation on the potential plain packaging of tobacco products.