Local shops in favour of government doing more to end smoking
More than 8/10 North East shopkeepers would support a licence to sell tobacco to prevent sales to children and stop illegal tobacco. And nearly 7/10 would support raising the age of sale to 21.
A new report commissioned by charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) finds that the majority of local retailers in England support existing tobacco laws and want the government to go further to reduce the harm caused by tobacco.
North East health campaigners Fresh, trading standards and a former retailer are backing ASH in calling for the government to listen to retailers who want to see more, not less, regulation to protect local communities, their reputation and their business.
The report titled ‘Regulation is not a dirty word’ [1] published today [Tuesday 1st November] shows that 84% of local retailers in the NE support the introduction of a mandatory retail licence in order to sell tobacco.[2]
There is currently no licensing scheme in place for tobacco, a product which kills up to two thirds of its users [3] and no mandatory age verification both of which are supported by over 8 in 10 local retailers of tobacco.
Retailers are used to complying with alcohol licensing schemes and are already required to have an economic operator ID before they can trade in tobacco as part of tobacco pack tracking regulations. [4] Mandatory age verification for anyone looking under 25, as has been the case in Scotland since 2017, would make enforcement in England easier both for tobacco and alcohol. [5]
A requirement for tobacco retailers to be licenced could help prevent sales to children and illicit tobacco by giving local authorities greater powers to take effective action against those who do not adhere to the regulations.
The findings of the new report also show that North East retailers support a range of other measures to tackle smoking including:
• 84% support a licence to sell tobacco
• 68% support raising the age of sale for cigarettes from 18 to 21 years
• 78% support a requirement for tobacco manufacturers to pay a fee to Government for measures to help smokers quit and prevent young people from taking up smoking.
Local retailers in England also support tougher action to enforce existing legislation to control the sale of tobacco products and prevent young people obtaining cigarettes.
- Nearly three quarters (71%) support larger fines for breaking the law
- 81% support more regular checks by trading standards staff
- 84% support quicker action when offences take place
- 79% support closure orders for repeated breaches of tobacco laws.
Retired North East shopkeeper John McClurey, who supported legislation to remove tobacco retail displays and for standardised plain packs, said: “Retailers would always rather sell birthday cards than sympathy cards. We know that smoking is bad for smokers, and it’s bad for business too as it kills our customers
“Tobacco kills its lifelong customers and yet any business can sell tobacco. Retailers need a licence to sell fireworks or alcohol, but not cigarettes. A licence could be removed for anyone selling illegal tobacco or selling to children.
“The Government should listen to shopkeepers like me and take the tough action needed to deliver a Smokefree 2030. Helping fewer people to smoke will free up millions of pounds in the North East which can be spent on other things.”
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: “Every year, over 5,000 people in our region die from a smoking-related disease and many more are left with life-limiting conditions as a result of their addiction. If the government is serious about its ambition to achieve a smokefree England by 2030 it needs to take action now to support more smokers to quit and prevent young people from starting to smoke in the first place. We already know there is overwhelming public support for measures to end smoking – and this report proves that retailers feel just as strongly about the need to end avoidable smoking-related harm.”
Amanda Healy, Director of Public Health for Durham County Council and Chair of Association of Directors of Public Health North East Network, said: “Smoking remains our region’s biggest killer and is an addiction that starts in childhood, with many smokers wishing they’d never started in the first place. Tobacco is a driver of poverty and has a negative impact on the economy and on our businesses. We support our local retailers when they tell us that more needs to be done to bring an end to the damage that smoking is doing to our society and now we are backing their calls for measures like a tobacco licence and mandatory age verification. These are simple measures which, when added to existing tobacco laws, will help to save lives.”
Paul Leighton, Senior Trading Standards Officer at Newcastle City Council and regional tobacco lead for the North East Trading Standards Association, said: “We know that the vast majority of retailers in the North East abide by the rules and we’re primarily here to support them in complying with legislation and keeping up to date with changes. However, we agree with retailers that more regulation is needed for tobacco, including the introduction of a licensing scheme. It would make enforcement easier and it would help to create that level playing field which so many retailers tell us is needed.”
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: “To achieve a smokefree 2030, the government needs to ratchet up regulations to support smokers to quit and to prevent young people starting to smoke. Just like the public, the majority of retailers support key measures needed to bring smoking to an end, such as increasing the age of sale, introducing a tobacco licence and making tobacco manufacturers pay to help smokers quit.
“Retailers aren’t anti-regulation, they know that good regulation can make their lives easier by ensuring there’s a level playing field. That’s why they want to see the gaping hole in retail regulation closed through the introduction of a mandatory tobacco licence backed up by stronger penalties for breaking the law.”
Bob Blackman MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health, said: “The main argument used by tobacco manufacturers’ against tobacco laws with politicians like me is that they harm small shops. What this survey of nearly 1,000 shopkeepers published today shows is that shopkeepers don’t think that’s true. The majority support existing regulations and want government to go further including by raising the age of sale for tobacco to 21.
“On Thursday in a debate in the main chamber I will be calling on the government to publish a Tobacco Control Plan to deliver the smokefree 2030 ambition without further delay. I’ll be urging the government to listen to retailers who want government to implement tougher regulations, that’s what they think will be good for business, not de-regulation.”
‘Regulation is not a dirty word’ was launched at a Parliamentary event hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health.
References
- [1] ‘Regulation is not a dirty word’- https://ash.org.uk/resources/view/retailers-report-2022
- [2] Banks, E., Joshy, G., Weber, M.F. et al. Tobacco smoking and all-cause mortality in a large Australian cohort study: findings from a mature epidemic with current low smoking prevalence. BMC Med 13, 38 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-015-0281-z
- [3] The survey was conducted by market research company NEMS, in March and April 2022. Interviewers conducted computer-assisted telephone interviews among a random sample of managers of small shops selling tobacco in all the nations and regions of the United Kingdom. A total of 961 agreed to take part in the study, including newsagents, off-licences, specialist tobacconists, local convenience stores/supermarkets (including symbol groups), and independent fuel stations. Retailers were sampled using an existing database with owners classified by geographic location and business activity type based on the governmental SIC code. Quota controls on business type ensured a proportional stratified sample. The report breaks down the figures by individual nation and focuses on the figures for England, and also contains figures for Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as for the UK as a whole.
- [4] ASH Law and Policy Guide available online. Tobacco traceability and security features. [NB the ASH guide includes comprehensive information and links to all tobacco legislation]
- [5] Scottish Government. Selling Tobacco and/or Nicotine Vapour Products: Age Verification. 2017