Scaremongering about tobacco point of sale ad ban

14 August 2009
Media Statement

Scaremongering about tobacco point of sale advertising ban rubbished

Labour is rubbishing claims that banning the advertising of tobacco products could lead to black-market sales, Labour Associate Health Spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says.

“I understand the British research quoted by the NZ Association of Convenience Stores was in fact funded and carried out by the tobacco companies,” Iain Lees-Galloway said.

“The attempt to scaremonger about a potential ban on cigarette displays in shops is similar to that tried by some retailers when the Labour Government moved to ban smoking in bars.

“The entire restaurant and bar industry didn’t crash when smoking in bars was banned and I am confident there will not be huge increases in black-market sales of tobacco products if there was a ban on point of sale advertising.

“Supermarkets don’t have large displays of tobacco products anymore and there hasn’t been a huge explosion in black-market products

“I urge the Government to stop listening to the scaremongering of those with a vested financial interest in point of sale tobacco advertising and put a ban in place.

“The reality is that smoking is one of the leading causes of death in this country and the banning of point of sale tobacco advertising could help to reduce smoking,” Iain Lees-Galloway said.

ENDS