Almost 90% of Small Retailers Compliant with Tobacco Display Ban

Around 9 in 10 small retailers are fully compliant with the tobacco display ban, according to a report released today by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).

The CTSI's Rapid Review on Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Regulations Compliance by Small Businesses shows that 89% of convenience stores, 83% of off licences, 92% of newsagents and 97% of petrol forecourts are fully compliant with the tobacco display provisions to cover up tobacco gantries, which was introduced for small businesses on 6th April 2015.

ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “The findings of this report show that retailers have adapted well to the tobacco display ban regulations. The guidance that we developed for retailers alongside trading standards has been widely distributed in the sector, and we are encouraged by the fact that around 90% of retailers are fully compliant with the regulations.”

In May this year, ACS research revealed that, of the of independent convenience retailers who had been visited by trading standards since the implementation of the display ban, 94% did not have any issues with their compliance.

Mr Lowman continued: “This regulation has however been costly for our sector, with doors being fitted to gantries, training for staff, and longer re-stocking and service times. The fact that our sector has good levels of compliance does not mean this has been easy or cheap to achieve.”

The CTSI's research was carried out by local trading standards services across nine regions in England who visited 592 small retail premises, over eight weeks in July and August this year. The full report can be viewed here: http://www.tradingstandards.uk/policy/policy-pressitem.cfm/newsid/1834

ACS has produced comprehensive Assured Advice guidance for convenience retailers about compliance with the tobacco display ban. Assured Advice offers retailers the assurance that their in-store practices cannot be challenged by local enforcement officers, but stores must sign up to be covered by the free scheme. More information about Assured Advice and how to sign up can be viewed here: www.acs.org.uk/advice.

ACS will be hosting a FREE Responsible Retailing Forum on 25th November in London which will discuss any current and upcoming changes to retail legislation which will affect the policies and procedures within convenience stores. To book your free place, please visit: http://www.acs.org.uk/acs-events/responsible-retailing/