Benson & Hedges Manufacturer Attacks Bill to Ban Tobacco Displays

Source from:  Talking Retail 10/15/2009

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has attacked the UK government for its plan to ban retailers from displaying tobacco. In advance of the third reading of the UK Health Bill, in the House of Commons today (Monday 12 October 2009), Daniel Torras, JTI's UK managing director, said: "The UK Government continues to demonstrate that it fails to recognise or listen to the evidence provided by key stakeholders that hiding cigarette packs from view in retail outlets will not achieve its goal of further reducing youth smoking. There is no credible evidence that tobacco display bans reduce youth smoking." Torras claimed the Bill, if adopted, would provide an "open door" for distributors of counterfeit tobacco products. JTI manufactures leading tobacco brands including Benson & Hedges, Camel, Mayfair, Silk Cut and Hamlet. Enditem