Labour MP introduces tobacco ban bill

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A Labour MP will try to introduce legislation aimed at banning tobacco displays in shops after the Government said it would not impose a ban.

A report to Parliament's health select committee recommended cigarettes and tobacco be kept out of sight.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said yesterday the Government would not ban tobacco displays.

He said the Government was committed to reducing smoking and was prepared to consider any new and effective initiatives.

Today, Labour's associate health spokesman Iain Lees-Galloway said if the Government was serious about reducing smoking rates it must "take any measures available to de-normalise cigarette smoking".

"The fact is cigarettes kill, not when they are misused or abused, but when they are used as intended. That's not the sort of thing that should be on display next to bread and milk."

Mr Lees-Galloway said he would introduce a member's bill to the ballot. It would not be considered unless drawn from the ballot which may take some time.

The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) urged the Government to reconsider.

"Stopping the tobacco industry from advertising its products at point of sale is a vital step towards ensuring that the next generation of young New Zealanders don't get hooked on an addictive product which kills half of its long-term users," said NZMA chairman Peter Foley.

The Paediatric Society of New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, Barnardos New Zealand and Parents Centres New Zealand issued a joint statement in support of a ban.

Children are more susceptible to advertising than adults, Barnardos spokesman Peter Gerrie said.

"The simple truth is that we're letting tobacco companies use shop displays to reach children."

The Nurses Organisation and the Dental Association said they were dismayed by the Government's decision.

Research showed that young people did notice tobacco displays and teenagers who saw them were more likely to start smoking, they said in a joint statement.

They were unconvinced retailers would face costs as a result of the ban.

"The tobacco industry has paid for the current display set up in the form of rebates and assistance with providing the displays in the first place.

"They could also pay for any changes required."

However, Stay Displays representative Richard Green said the Government had taken a "common sense approach".

He said retailers would be forced to spend "thousands of dollars" to comply with the ban.

"There is no evidence that banning displays will reduce smoking.

"Banning displays would have cost individual retailers a lot of money to implement but would have no effect on tobacco consumption."

Stay Displays is a coalition of retailers opposed to the ban.

-NZPA