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campaigning 
We are currently campaigning against proposals to ban the display of tobacco and prohibit the sale of 10s packs.
Our campaign against the black market in tobacco is continuing into its 25th year.
We promote the ‘No ID No Sale’ campaign and campaign for proxy purchasing to be criminalised.
Each year we lobby MPs and Ministers on issues which affect your business.
What can I do?
Sign the petition
Write to your MP
Give a response to the consultation
Ken Patel, a retailer from Leicester and National Spokesperson for the Tobacco Retailers Alliance, has tabled a petition on the Downing Street website and we are encouraging retailers to sign up. Click here to access the petition, or from the Downing Street petitions homepage search for ‘tobacco display.’ If we can get more than 200 signatures, the Prime Minister will look into the issue and give a response to all those who signed.
This petition will help us to show the level of concern among retailers about these proposals – add your name today and encourage other retailers to do the same.
Mahendra Jadeja, a retailer from North London, has tabled a Downing Street petition calling for the proxy purchasing of tobacco to be criminalised. You can sign that petition here.
Write to your MP
Concerned shop owners should contact their Member of Parliament to address their concerns. If you are not sure who your Member of Parliament is, click here.
What shall I write?
Start your letter or email by telling your MP a bit about your business, pointing out how much of your cash turnover is from tobacco sales and the footfall it generates. Most people don’t realise how heavily small shops rely on selling tobacco products. Next, tell them about the consequences of a display ban. You should consider if it would be practical for you to keep tobacco under the counter; what it might cost you to prepare for a display ban, and whether you anticipate lost sales to larger outlets. Would you stay open? How would it affect the community if you close or sell up?
You can ask your MP to sign an Early Day Motion (number 1904) which is a special petition in Parliament for MPs to show their support for a cause. This particular EDM was tabled by Jim Dowd MP and is called, ‘Small Shops and Tobacco Display.’ As a constituent, you have a right to ask your MP to sign this EDM.
Give a response to the consultation
As an independent business owner, you have a right to respond to the Government’s consultation. The Minister must consider all responses so this really is your chance to voice your concerns about the proposed legislation.
You can view the Government’s consultation document here
Write your response following the same suggested format for letters to your MP. Thinking about the following questions will help you write your consultation response:
How long have you had your shop?
What is the role of your shop in the local community?
How much would it cost to convert your shop to comply with a display ban?
Would you have to replace the counter, or carry out more complex work such as re-designing the layout of your shop?
Can you afford to invest this amount of money in your business at this time?
Would you reduce your range of tobacco if it had to kept under the counter?
Would you have to remove another category or reduce your ranges of other products?
Do you think you would lose tobacco sales to larger shops if you couldn’t display it?
Would you lose sales in other categories?
Why is it important for you to be able to display your tobacco range and prices?
What would be the effect on the community if your shop closed?
Do you think banning the display of tobacco would reduce youth smoking?
Do you think adults would stop smoking if they cannot see a display?
How do you think the government could reduce youth smoking?
What could the government do to help you run a successful small retail business?
Don’t worry about the quality of your written response – spelling mistakes and grammar are not important. It can be word-processed or written by hand. The most important thing is WHAT you write and YOUR opinion on these proposals.
When you have written your submission, post it to:
Tobacco Consultation
Department of Health
Room 712, Wellington House
133–155 Waterloo Road
London SE1 8UG
