Call for cigarette display ban this year

File photo / APN

Visible cigarette advertising displays will go within nine months following tobacco law changes, if public health officials get their way.

The Smokefree Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill, which passed its first reading in December proposes banning all point-of-sale tobacco displays and allowing infringement notices to be issued when tobacco is sold to people aged under 18.

It also proposes the measures come into force six months after the bill becomes law, with a two-year transition period so that shops can be modified.

But Hutt Valley Regional Public Health adviser Lucy Butler told a Parliament's health committee today shop retailers should hide displays within nine months, not two years, and specialist tobacco retailers within a year.

She said a survey of 48 tobacco retailers in the Hutt Valley showed stores already had the means to cover the displays with grey roller doors.

"It was indicated to us when we conducted the survey that these tobacco displays are actually closed and locked at the end of each day to mitigate theft," Ms Butler said.

Ms Butler also recommended generic plain packaging, amending the health warning to English and Te Reo, and extending infringement notices to cover all breaches of the Smoke-Free Environments Act.

She said breaches to the Act were often hard to enforce, and infringement notices would force retailers to follow the law.

"Tobacco retailers are aware of the complexities around the prosecution process, therefore there is little incentive for them to comply."

The Public Health Association of New Zealand recommended selling tobacco at one check-out point in each outlet, and giving retailers six months to comply with banning requirements.

- NZPA