The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has strongly contested claims being made about the alleged sale of nicotine containing vaping devices to minors by convenience stores. “Our retailers have extremely high standards, especially when it comes to selling tobacco related products, and anything with regard to youth,” AACS CEO Theo Foukkare said. “It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 18 years of age, and our members strictly abide by this. In fact, most of our members have a policy to ask for proof-of-age if a customer looks to be under 25. “In addition, nicotine containing vaping products are illegal for any Australian retailer to sell today, either in store or online. “Zero nicotine containing vaping products are legally able to be sold in some states and fall under each state’s strict Tobacco Act, which all include compliance measures such as 18-plus, restriction in their display and…

The Federal Government’s decision to push ahead with a prescription-based model for nicotine e-cigarettes has the potential to slow the vaccine roll-out and entrench a black market for vaping products. Australia lags most of the developed world in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and is well short of its own targets. By the Federal Government’s own admission, Australia’s vaccine rollout won’t gain pace until October – the same month it was supposed to be completed with much of this work falling on GPs. It therefore makes no sense that at a time when GPs’ & Pharmacies workloads will be massively increasing, the Government will be forcing 520,000 e-cigarette using ex-smokers into GP waiting rooms to obtain a prescription for nicotine.   GP and other health professionals time is precious and finite, so it really must be queried if having 520,000 ex-smokers who are not sick and have already quit…

Industry groups welcome COVID assistance as businesses face catastrophe Industry groups the National Retail Association (NRA), the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA), and the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) have welcomed the latest round of assistance measures as businesses in key parts of the country face catastrophe. The assistance measures come immediately after the three associations announced a suite of proposals aimed at keeping lockdown affected businesses alive. Announcements by state and federal governments in the past 24 hours that the NRA, FCA and AACS have advocated for include: Emergency cash payments to businesses (subject to criteria) in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia; Tenancy relief (subject to criteria) in both New South Wales and Victoria. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said the assistance measures come at a make or break moment for many retailers in lockdown affected regions. “The Greater Sydney and Melbourne regions are Australia’s two largest…

Legitimate retailers are being forced out of business as illegitimate, unregulated illicit tobacco continues to spread far and wide across Australia, AACS CEO Theo Foukkare says. “The most common conversation I have with tobacco retailers focuses on illicit tobacco and the massive impact it is having on their bottom line,” he said. The other most common conversation is regarding liquid nicotine  e-cigarettes / vapes & the fact that they are now also being sold illegally by the same retailers that are selling illicit tobacco. “The high cost of cigarettes in Australia has inadvertently allowed this illegal activity to thrive and it continues to undercut the legal market. “We know struggling retailers have also started selling illicit products just to survive because the demand for the cheaper product is so high. “To protect retailers, we want the Federal Government to start working with State Governments and local councils to provide enhanced…

Peak industry bodies have called for greater government support for New South Wales and Victorian businesses struggling to survive the current prolonged lockdowns. National Retail Association (NRA) CEO Dominique Lamb; Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) CEO Mary Aldred; and Australian Convenience Stores Association (AACS) CEO Theo Foukkare all said many of their members in Australia’s two biggest states urgently need assistance. Measures that the business groups are asking respective state and federal governments to consider are as follows: The reintroduction of JobKeeper to businesses in NSW and VIC affected by the current prolonged lockdowns. Business support around leasing to manage increased small business debts. A stimulus package to address drops in cash flow. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said that retailers in Australia’s two largest states desperately needed support and that the current lockdowns could jeopardise the all-important Christmas period. “Each week both New South Wales and Victoria remain in lockdown…