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Tobacco Display Ban Will Boost Black Market, Say 3 in 4 Corner Shopkeepers

• -         56% of corner shopkeepers aware of smuggled tobacco sold in their area
• -         40% of these know of smugglers supplying underage smokers
• -         National Spokesman comment
• -         Regional shopkeepers’ comments
• -         Corner shopkeepers available for interview

A new survey has found that three in four corner shopkeepers in Britain believe a ban on tobacco displays in shops will displace trade from their stores to the black market. The findings come as the government considers a move to ban all tobacco displays in shops in an effort to reduce youth smoking. The survey was carried out by the Tobacco Retailers Alliance, which represents 26,000 independent shopkeepers across the UK.

Ken Patel, National Spokesman for the Tobacco Retailers Alliance and a shopkeeper in Leicester said:

“If you take away the right of all retailers to display tobacco, it’s going to be the corner shopkeepers who are hit hardest. If smokers aren’t aware a shop such as mine sells tobacco, they are going to be all the more tempted to get it from car boot sales or sellers on street corners. Why wouldn’t they, when smugglers can sell at half the price that I can? If they force us to sell it from under the counter, they are forcing the whole trade under the counter and the sale of dodgy tobacco will only increase.”

The survey also found that 56% of shopkeepers are aware of smuggled tobacco being sold in their area. 40% of these know of smugglers supplying underage smokers.

John Abbott, a shopkeeper in Darlington, commented:

“Young people don’t take up smoking because they see cigarette packs on display. They start smoking because of peer pressure and because they want to look older than they are. The fact that 40% of those retailers who are aware of smuggling in their area know that the smugglers are selling to the underage should surely tell the government that they should be focussing more on targeting smuggling rather than forcing retailers like me to remove our displays. There is, after all, no evidence that a display ban will reduce youth smoking.”

69% of those polled believe that cross-border shopping and tobacco smuggling will get worse over the next 12 months.

Fiona Barrett, a shopkeeper in Glasgow, commented:

“Retailers like me are a vital part of our local communities. We need the Government to work with us rather than against us and tackle the issue of tobacco smuggling head on. That way, we can continue to provide the valuable service that we do for our customers.”

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For more information and to interview local shopkeepers, please contact Katherine Graham on 0800 008 282 / 07962 384 254 katherine.graham@tobaccoretailersalliance.org.uk  or Jonathan Hart 0777 55 66 908

Notes to Editors

1.   The Tobacco Retailers Alliance is a coalition of 26,000 independent retailers who all sell tobacco products. For 26 years we have represented the rights of legitimate retailers to sell tobacco products in a legal and responsible way. The Tobacco Retailers Alliance offers free membership to any independent retailer who sells tobacco. The Tobacco Retailers Alliance is funded by the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA.)

2.   The Economic Research Survey of 1,114 retailers, which was carried out by post during January and February 2009, was analysed by ORB (The Opinion Research Business).

3.   Key National findings are as follows:

·     Three quarters of retailers (76%) are concerned that the display ban would most likely displace trade to the black market  

·     56% are aware of smuggled / counterfeit tobacco products being sold in their area and 40% of these know of smugglers supplying underage smokers in the area

·     65% think reducing or freezing taxes would help to reduce tobacco smuggling and cross-border shopping

·     69% think that cross-border shopping and tobacco smuggling will get worse over the next 12 months

4.       The Tobacco Retailers Alliance recently produced a short film featuring corner shopkeepers voicing their concerns about the display ban. To see the film, please use the contact details above.

5.       The Conservative Party and more than 100 MPs, including 50 Labour backbenchers, have pledged their support for retailers on the threat to displays, recognising that such a move would place an unnecessary burden on small businesses while doing nothing to reduce youth smoking rates

Katherine Graham

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