Cigarettes and Tobacco News

Mar 5, 2007 -- The Cancer Society and anti-smoking group ASH have called for tobacco products to be kept out of sight in all retail outlets where cigarettes are sold.

"We want cigarette displays off the walls at check-outs and placed under the counter," Cancer Society tobacco control adviser, Belinda Hughes, said.

"Recent research shows 66 per cent of adult New Zealanders support a total ban on the visual display of cigarettes, and support is even higher amongst non-smokers."

Studies in the 1990s found retail displays of cigarettes increase average tobacco sales by 12 per cent to 28 per cent, Ms Hughes said.

ASH spokeswoman Sneha Paul said cigarette displays in dairies and supermarkets were advertising and marketing designed to attract children to take up smoking.

"It is vital to remove these from behind the counter and put them under the counter - what's out of sight is out of mind," Ms Paul said.

Ms Paul said a total ban on point of sale cigarette displays would remove an important marketing device used by tobacco companies to sell cigarettes.

The Green Party has welcomed the call to hide cigarettes and tobacco products.

Associate Health spokeswoman Metiria Turei said tobacco companies had changed their marketing strategies to get around the current regulations on cigarette displays.

"The only way to protect our children and young people from the attraction of these displays is to keep these products out of sight.

"Research shows that cigarette smokers are very brand loyal - the brand they start smoking is the brand they die smoking. Advertising and point of sale displays are specifically designed to attract new smokers.

Mrs Turei said tobacco companies would no doubt object to the move.

"But they make huge profits from the ready sale of an extremely toxic substance responsible for the deaths of many New Zealanders.

"The community must be supported in controlling this substance and a point of sale ban is an excellent start," Mrs Turei said.