Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Competition
Win tickets to an npower Test Match
Asian News has teamed up with Test match sponsor, npower, to offer two lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets for the England v New Zealand Test Series at Old Trafford.
Click here for details
Partly sunnyNews
| 
Submit Comments
LAUNCHING a campaign ... Aasim Rashid is against Government plans to ban cigarettes from being displayed in shops
advertisement
Shop owner says cigarette ban will devastate trade
6/ 5/2008
A NEWSAGENT has warned that banning the display of cigarettes could put stores in Rochdale out of business.
Aasim Rashid, the proprietor of Marland News, Bolton Road, Rochdale has vowed to fight Government proposals to ban shopkeepers from displaying tobacco products.
The 37-year-old has written to fellow retailers, urging them to join his campaign against the Department of Health’s plans which could be introduced in the autumn.
He hopes shopkeepers will contact Rochdale MP Paul Rowen to express their fears that they could be forced out of business if they suffer a drop in profits.
He said: "I am totally against these plans. It will really affect sales and there are already enough restrictions around smoking.
"We are already in contact with Paul Rowen to protest about plans. If we don’t display cigarettes, then we won’t sell them."
The Government has drawn up the plans to cut the number of smokers and prevent children from taking up the habit.
But newsagents say the proposals are a step too far and claim they will seriously harm their businesses.
Mr Rashid added: "I have appealed to all local retailers to come forward and record their protests. We hope for the sake of our businesses that we will succeed in stopping the Government from enforcing the legislation."
Most recent 1 of 1 user comments
Got an opinion you want to share?Do you think shopkeepers should be banned from displaying cigarettes?
| Card | Typical APR |
| Virgin Credit Card | 15.9% |
| Egg Card | 16.9% |
| Barclaycard Platinum | 14.9% |
| Barclaycard OnePulse For London | 14.9% |
| Capital One BT Exclusive | 13.9% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| FirstPlus Exclusive Rate | 6.6% |
| Moneyback Bank | 7.2% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 7.7% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 7.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 7.8% |
| Barclays | 7.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICESAVE Easy Access ISA |
6.10% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Direct ISA Issue 4 |
6.00% |
|
YORKSHIRE BS e-ISA |
5.55% |
There should be no detrimental effect to businesses as most people already know what tobacco product they wish to buy.
Shrewd bussiness owners will soon realise that the space presently occupied by cigarettes may be put to much better use. The "power wall" behind the counter is a space that customers must look at when they purchase ANY product from the store. Why not display other products in that space ...anything there will surely sell. Why not use that space for advertising? Any chain store or chain of petrol stations could very easily install LCD television screens behind their counters (where the tobacco currently is)and advertise all their products on the screen. This would rejuvenate their business.
Any person who completely understands the harmful effects of tobacco displays to our youth and how difficult it is to quit smoking when you are bombarded with tobacco advertising will soon realise that there is no other option.....ban tobacco displays!
6/05/2008 at 21:55