Public health charity Action on Smoking and Health in Wales has welcomed the new law that comes into force today banning the display of tobacco in supermarkets and other large shops in Wales.
From Monday December 3rd large retailers will no longer be allowed to have cigarettes and other tobacco products on display. Tobacco price lists will also have no branding or logos.
The law will extend to smaller shops, including specialist tobacconists, in April 2015.
Displays of cigarettes at the point of sale has been one of the ways in which tobacco companies have been able to advertise their products.
Chief Executive Elen de Lacy said:
“Today represents a significant step forward in making tobacco less accessible, and less visible, for children and young people. De-normalising tobacco in everyday settings is vital if we are to have any chance of reducing the take-up of smoking among our young people.
“Point of sale displays have been a highly influential advertising space that has a major effect on young people’s awareness of tobacco products and can also result in impulse purchasing among young people and ex-smokers.
“Research after point of sale displays had been banned in Ireland showed that compliance was high among retailers, young people became less confident that they would be able to buy cigarettes from shops, and were less able to recall brands, with a drop from 80% to 22% after it was implemented.”
In England, point of sale displays were banned in large shops in April 2012 and will also be banned from smaller shops from April 2015. Scotland and Northern Ireland are also pursuing a point of sale ban.
