UK: East Ren 100% behind Tobacco Display Ban

Source from:  Glasgow South and Eastwood Extra 05/21/2013

TRADING standards officers have reported 100 per cent compliance in a new ban on cigarette displays in East Renfrewshire shops.

The Scottish government passed the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act two years ago, which led to a ban on cigarette advertising, displays and automatic vending machines as of April 29 this year.

The move is a bid to remove the temptation to take up smoking, particularly for young people, and affects any shop with a floor area of more than 280 square metres.

The ban will roll out to smaller shops as of April 6, 2015.

East Renfrewshire council's trading standards team have now visited all relevant premises in Busby, Eaglesham, Giffnock, Newton Mearns and Uplawmoor and note 100 per cent compliance with the new ban.

The law means a 45 per cent reduction in the number of premises which offer tobacco products, as many have chosen to remove machines, rather than alter or move the product to behind the bar.

Principal trading standards officer Steve Fox said: "Premises such as pubs that have vending machines may wish to relocate them outwith public access, but we can advise them on this.

"As part of our ongoing commitment to the health of young people in East Renfrewshire, we will continue with our policy of rigorous, but proportionate enforcement of underage sales of tobacco."

Councillor Vincent Waters, ERC environment convener, added: "It is well established that tobacco is harmful and the legislation that has been passed has the sole aim of reducing this harm.

"Anything we can do to prevent young people from starting to smoke by restricting access to tobacco will have long-term health benefits.

"That's what these new measures were designed to do and I am pleased that trading standards has found that our business community has acted to comply with them." Enditem