Bad news on tobacco displays from Scotland

[Deano]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20691956

A ban on the display of cigarettes in Scotland's shops will come into force in April 2013 after a tobacco firm lost its legal fight to stop the move.

Not sure how it really affects cigar retailers yet...

D

[Deano]

Not shopping in many larger premisis (do they exist?) I didn't even know it was in affect in England:

"A retail display ban for large shops (over 280 sq m) came into force on 6th April 2012 and for smaller shops on the 6th April 2015"

Does it include cigar retailers, I would assume so...

[SmokeyDave]

I'm sure it will have a massive impact, when we visited Oz last month they had just implemented their new laws, in the Duty Free at Sydney airport you had to approach a staffed counter which had a plain printed list of cigar stock, you requested what you would like and they wandered off to plain solid door covered shelves and picked your smokes. Absolutely no browsing

[Deano]

I really don't see how it helps, I'm not anti 'stop-smoking' when it comes to cigarettes etc, and I can't honestly see how they think this will stop kids smoking. Making it taboo just increases the chance they'll want to experiment. Idiots.

Backed up a lot by some entries on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retail_display_ban

[Ryan]

It's going to hurt shops with very big window displays. Look out for changes down the line there.
The retail display ban came in here a few years ago but specialist tobacconists, of which there are only four in the country, got a derogation. As part of the deal they had to stop selling cigarettes, which is ridiculous.
I don't think the specialist shops in the UK, i.e. those allowed to have cigar sampling, got a derogation from the ban, just the postponement mentioned.
Doesn't anybody here know a UK retailer they could ask? I don't live in Engalnd but it is going to change how all of you buy your cigars, at least locally, and it looks like now it's too late to do anything about it. Petitions have in the past made a difference, think "cigar sampling".

[tippexx]

"A retail display ban for large shops (over 280 sq m) came into force on 6th April 2012 and for smaller shops on the 6th April 2015"

Not really huge then, the average size of a UK retail outlet is 190-280m2. And by shop does it just mean the retail floor, because most shops are the same again in the back storeroom. If it means the shop as a whole, then the retail space reduces to app. 12 x 12 metres.

[Pete]

Does this effect tobacconists? Or just main stream retailers?

The shop i use is very compact but only because the display cases are big.

Do the government want me to feel dirty when i want to buy a cigar?

[donkeydrop]

I think its really sad and pathetic, it used to be a case of things like cigars and whisky were not touched as much as other things by laws and in prices because the mps were whisky drinking cigar smokers! as a smoker of anything now you are made to feel unclean. I agree it just makes it all more appealing to the younger generation more of a challenge than an obstacle, a bit like a speed camera to a boy racer!

[Wid3y]

If you go into most big supermarkets now they're completely hidden away. Only this they display is lighters and rolling papers..

[donkeydrop]

when you ask for anything at the tobacconist counter in a supermarket they have not got a clue what's behind the shutters

[Wid3y]

You wait your turn, ask for your items, wait longer while she finds them to note they're out of stock.. Glad I gave up cigarettes!

[donkeydrop]

I asked for a pack of villigers a while back they looked at me as if my head buttoned up at back!

[DavidD]

The law is an ass ! Unfortunately, the new regulations cover cigarettes (as we know), pipe tobacco and cigars. Of course, we got the first artillery salvo with those hideous white labels on packaging, even tobacco tins and cigar boxes - the 'health warning' ! To come, we have a total absence of tobacco images - even at the tobacconists ! Mad !! The philosophy is, of course, that if folk don't see the images of cigarettes, pipes or cigars, they won't be induced to buy them. The government have paid an army of boffins to come up with this - at the taxpayers' expense. And where do those taxes come from ? Oh yes, you and me as we enjoy our pipes and cigars !

[donkeydrop]

I totally agree

[Drewmidorn]

I like it.... It makes it all feel so much more deliciously naughty