New Zealand Retailers Welcome Government's Approach

NZACS Media Release:
For Immediate Release – 24 February

New Zealand Retailers Welcome Government’s Approach

The New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores (NZACS) welcomes comments today by Prime Minister John Key who said the Government has no plans to ban the display of tobacco products from retail outlets.

NZACS Chairman Roger Bull said the lobbying power of the anti-tobacco industry had done everything to misrepresent and drown out the voice of retailers, so hearing the Prime Minister’s comments were a sign of common sense coming through.

“We have consistently said that there is no international evidence to support the banning of retail displays of tobacco products, and that imposing significant costs on retailers in these economic times would be completely unfair,” said Mr Bull.

“I’m sure that the convenience store sector that employs over 10,000 people will be relieved to hear reason has prevailed, and that retailers won’t have to spend thousands of dollars each to change their shops around just to meet the agenda of some anti-tobacco groups.”

“Trying to extrapolate retail experiences in Thailand or Iceland cannot be realistically applied to the New Zealand retail environment” said Mr Bull.

NZACS represents over 750 convenience stores across New Zealand and has taken a leadership role within the retail sector on this issue. NZACS has been concerned that the Ministry of Health’s play with numbers of their recent consultation process does not adequately reflect the wide-spread views of the retail sector.

“New Zealand is already internationally recognised as a leader in tobacco control. The Prime Minister’s comments show that at last an evidence based approach to regulation making will occur and we wholeheartedly support this approach,” Mr Bull said

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