MEDIA RELEASE

AACS: ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGNERS SHOULD TREAT PUBLIC WITH RESPECT

November 27, 2015: The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has responded angrily to suggestions by Quit Victoria that retailers prey on school children and lower socio-economic areas to sell tobacco, with AACS CEO Jeff Rogut calling for anti-smoking lobbyists to show honest retailers – as well as the general public – greater respect in their campaigns.
An article in today’s Herald Sun by a Quit Victoria representative made the grossly absurd and dangerously misleading claim that “It is no coincidence that cigarette sellers cluster around schools and in areas of socio-economic disadvantage, and that prices are often cheaper in those outlets.”
Mr Rogut has called for a formal apology to retailers increasingly demonised for responsibly selling a legal product to adult consumers who choose to smoke.
“Today’s article misrepresents retailers in an unfair and disgraceful way. To suggest honest retailers deliberately prey on school children is grossly insulting at best, and defamatory at worst,” Mr Rogut said.
“Convenience stores are proven responsible retailers and have been a fixture in local communities, irrespective of socio-economic profile, for decades, employing local people and providing a valuable service to the surrounding area.
“For the anti-smoking lobby to suggest these retailers are breaking the law by attempting to sell tobacco to minors is abhorrent. It’s also completely false – tobacco display bans are in place everywhere, even price boards are restricted, and plain packaging was supposed to make tobacco products less attractive anyway.
“Bodies like Quit Victoria should be held to the same account as the rest of society. Making blanket claims that damage the reputation of honest retailers simply seeking to operate their business is unacceptable.”
The AACS has refuted suggestions that limiting the number of premises licensed to sell tobacco would reduce the incidence of smoking.
“Adults who choose to smoke have already shown increased willingness to bulk buy tobacco from the major chains, who are consistently the major beneficiaries of tobacco excise increases and regulations like plain packaging, while criminals will obviously welcome the opportunity to fill any holes in the legal tobacco market,” Mr Rogut said.
“According to the latest research by KPMG, black market tobacco accounts for over 14% of Australia’s total tobacco market. Reducing the number of premises licensed to sell legal tobacco will only see this figure rise further, raising serious concerns over the indiscriminate sale of cheap tobacco products by criminal gangs to minors and a lack of quality control. This is an area Quit should focus on, rather than demonising honest retailers.”
Mr Rogut cited a recent Bill introduced in Canada, which would see youths caught in possession of tobacco fined, as having the potential to curb young people from smoking and sourcing tobacco from illegal sources.
“Convenience stores are perfectly adept at retailing age restricted products in a responsible way. Penalising possession could be another tactic Government could consider to reduce smoking among young people. The point is, retailers play an important role and should be respected for doing so, instead of bearing the brunt of unwarranted criticism,” Mr Rogut said.
Regardless, the AACS has urged Government and anti-smoking lobbyists to make educating Australians on the impacts of smoking a priority.
“We have no issue with bodies like Quit Victoria campaigning against smoking and helping people quit. They are doctors and medical professionals presumably with the expertise to comment with authority on the health impacts of smoking,” Mr Rogut said.
“But they are not retail experts. Just as our association has no place in providing medical opinions, nor does Quit Victoria have any place in determining retail practices.”
The AACS is not an arm of, nor does it lobby on behalf of, the tobacco industry. It is the peak body for the convenience industry in Australia, representing the interests of over 6,000 stores.
For further information, please contact:
Jeff Rogut
Chief Executive Officer
Ph: 0467 873 789
Stephen Naylor
Wise McBaron Communication Australasian Association of Convenience Stores
Ph: (02) 9279 4770