about us responsible retailers

Responsible Retailers was launched in 2007 as a campaign to promote and encourage responsibility when selling tobacco products. We also seek to highlight the positive work many independent retailers are doing in reducing access to tobacco by young people.

Our member retailers are fully committed to preventing youth access to tobacco products. We work closely with schemes such as 'No ID No Sale' and CitizenCard to ensure retailers have the support they need to ask for proof of age and turn away customers who might be below the legal minimum age. Responsible Retailers also provides regular updates for retailers on changes to tobacco legislation which affect their business.

Tobacco sales account for a substantial part of independent retailers’ profits – on average tobacco products generate one third of an independent’s turnover. We campaign on issues relating to the sale of tobacco which might adversely affect small businesses. We believe it is important that retailers are able to display tobacco products at the point of sale in a way which facilitates informed adult choice of brand, allows for retail efficiency and maintains business productivity. Without display which enables the legitimate tobacco manufacturers to compete for market share, retailers will lose even more footfall in their shops. We are supporting retailers in maintaining their right to display the brands they have for sale to adult consumers.