4 March 2007

Get tobacco out of sight - Greens

The Green Party welcomes the call from the Cancer Society and ASH to ban point of sale displays of cigarettes and tobacco products.

“This would mean that you would not see cigarettes or tobacco products in dairies, supermarkets or petrol stations,” Associate Health Spokesperson Metiria Turei says.

“Tobacco companies have changed their marketing strategies to get around our 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.

“The co-location of cigarettes near lollies sends the wrong signals to children, suggesting that cigarettes are easy consumables. We must get them out of sight.

“Tobacco companies will no doubt object 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 says.

ENDS

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