Report Backs Govt's Stance Against Tobacco Ban

Press Release from New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores

HEADLINE: Report Backs Government's Stance [New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores]
NZACS Media Release

Embargoed for Release until Thursday 13 August 2009 6.00am

Report Backs Government’s Stance Against Tobacco Ban

The New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores (NZACS) is highlighting a new Australian Deloitte study that reinforces the stance taken by Prime Minister John Key supporting retailers’ views that retail bans on tobacco do not work and are hugely expensive.

“The Deloitte study estimated that 4,200 convenience stores in Australia will be hit by significant compliance costs to modify existing store layouts, alongside increasing customer transactions times by 30 per cent which will place further pressure on small retail outlets”, said Roger Bull, Chairman of NZACS.

“In New Zealand, NZACS has estimated that if similar regulations were imposed here, 7,500 retailers selling tobacco could be hit with a $45 million bill,” said Mr Bull.

“The report backs up real-world retail experiences from Canada which saw 1,875 convenience stores close in 2008 following the introduction of a retail display ban of tobacco, and sparked a phenomenal increase in the use of black market tobacco. New Zealand cannot afford to go down this nanny state path.

“Listening to the voice of anti-tobacco groups who have no experience in retailing or the operation of convenience store businesses is like asking a plumber to fix your electricity,” said Mr Bull.

Mr Bull said that in today’s tough economic environment, MPs need to listen to the voice of responsible community retailers who will be the only ones who will suffer as a result of a retail display ban. Thankfully the Prime Minister recognises this.

NZACS is hosting the Convenience Leaders Summit today in Auckland and has a line up of international speakers including David Bryans, President of the Canadian Convenience Stores Association. He will be speaking to 150 leading New Zealand retailers on the Canadian retail experience following the introduction of a tobacco retail display ban.

ENDS

© Scoop Media