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press releases 
Articles:
Tuesday 01th June
Two thirds of corner shops under threat - shopkeepers call on new Government to act fast
Sunday 30th May
Retailers respond to tobacco control lobby report
Thursday 13th May
Criminals smuggled Ł43,000 cigarettes... to wrong address
Tuesday 27th April
Retailer tip-off leads to legal action against smuggler
Full Article:
Shopkeepers welcome measures to prevent ‘proxy’ purchasing of cigarettes.
Shopkeepers across Scotland today welcomed measures to prevent so called ‘proxy’ purchasing of cigarettes. Campaigners from the Tobacco Retailers Alliance today congratulated the Scottish Parliament for putting an end to the practice of adults being legally allowed to buy tobacco for children.
Fiona Barrett, a Glasgow newsagent and Scottish Spokesperson for the Tobacco Retailers Alliance said:
“Although shopkeepers face a huge fine and could lose our right to sell tobacco if we sold it to an under-18, it is legal for adults to buy it on minors’ behalf. This situation is not only completely unfair, it also makes a mockery of the restrictions on shopkeepers to have such a gaping loophole in the law.”
“Today the Scottish Parliament have levelled the playing field somewhat and have begun to widen the responsibility for preventing under-18s from accessing cigarettes. Youth smoking remains a problem in Scotland, but the answer is not simply to place restrictions on small business. This is a common-sense policy and definitely a step in the right direction.”
Retailers remain opposed to the Government’s plans to prohibit retail displays of tobacco in shops amid concerns that the move would not cut youth smoking but would be a burden on struggling small shops.
Notes to Editors
- The Tobacco Retailers Alliance is a coalition of 26,000 independent retailers who all sell tobacco products. For 27 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.)
- Measures to criminalise proxy purchasing of tobacco and ban retail displays are contained within the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services Bill, currently at stage 2 in its Parliamentary process.
- A petition against the proposals to ban displays of tobacco organized by the Scottish Wholesalers Association attracted more than 10,000 signatures.
