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Tobacco Point of Sale Displays
The prohibition of tobacco displays at the point of sale represents a key milestone in protecting children and young people from the promotion of harmful tobacco products. By removing visual cues, Wales continues to take a bold stance in reducing smoking rates and promoting a healthier future.
What's The Issue?
Before the introduction of the ban, tobacco products were prominently displayed in retail spaces, normalising smoking and exposing children and young people to tobacco marketing. Point-of-sale displays were designed to attract attention, influence purchasing decisions, and promote smoking as a normal, everyday activity.
In Wales, a growing body of evidence showed that these displays had a significant impact on young people, increasing brand awareness and susceptibility to smoking. Removing these displays was therefore a crucial step in reducing tobacco harm and safeguarding future generations.
Why It Matters?
Protecting Young People from Tobacco Marketing
Research conducted between 1999 and 2006 found that point-of-sale displays were the leading way young people were exposed to tobacco marketing, with 46% of young people recalling seeing tobacco advertisements in shops. The ban helps break this cycle by removing visual triggers that encourage young people to experiment with smoking.
Preventing Relapse
Tobacco displays can act as a temptation for those attempting to quit or who have recently stopped smoking. By hiding tobacco products, we reduce visual cues that might prompt a relapse, supporting quitters in maintaining their smokefree journey.
Changing Perceptions
By keeping tobacco out of sight, the ban reduces the normalisation of smoking. This helps shift public perception, especially among children, who are less likely to view smoking as a common or acceptable behaviour.
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Public Support
The Welsh public strongly supports these measures. Surveys conducted in 2016 found that 72% of Welsh adults were in favour of banning tobacco displays. This broad support highlights the importance of continuing to prioritise public health policies that protect future generations.
Regulation Changes
The implementation of the ban on tobacco displays in Wales occurred in two phases:
3rd December 2012: Large retailers, such as supermarkets, were required to hide tobacco products from view.
6th April 2015: Smaller retailers, including corner shops, were also brought under the regulation.
Since these dates, all tobacco products in Wales must be stored out of sight, typically behind opaque cabinets or screens. Retailers who fail to comply face significant penalties, ensuring widespread adherence to the law.
Key Stats
- Before the ban, 46% of young people were aware of tobacco marketing at points of sale, making it one of the most common exposures to tobacco advertising.
- In 2016, 72% of Welsh adults supported banning tobacco displays at points of sale, highlighting strong public backing for the measure.
- Point-of-sale displays were identified as a key trigger for relapse among people attempting to quit smoking, undermining cessation efforts.
- Following similar bans in other countries, young people were less able to recall tobacco brands, with a 58% drop in brand recall in Ireland after implementation.
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