Getting tobacco out of sight in retail outlets  
 

Through special deals with retailers, the tobacco industry keeps its deadly products highly visible and promotes them to children by "front of shop" displays in supermarkets and other retail outlets.

These displays have been moved out of sight by law in most jurisdictions (NSW, ACT; soon in Vic, WA, Tasmania, NT). In SA and Queensland they are still in view but reduced in size by regulation.

Read Why tobacco displays should be banned
The truth about retailer claims  misleading our governments
Leading adman says: Product display is advertising

How it shouldn't be

How it should be

Up front - in kids' faces 
Typical displays in some Australian jurisdictions 
(above and below) 
still expose rows and stacks of lethal, addictive products
 in clear view of children, recent quitters and others.

Out of sight 
In contrast, tobacco is kept out of public view 
but accessible on request in some Australian jurisdictions - and some individual shops like
this major supermarket in SA (above).
Also by law in Bangkok, Thailand (below)

 

Tobacco out of sight by law in Australian states and territories

NSW

The pictures below from January 2010 show how a major supermarket chain in NSW, Australia, has put tobacco out of sight under state law. The small white labels list the brand variant names and prices for retail staff. Smokers are not inconvenienced - most already know their brand. The law prescribes price boards (plain font, black and white, with size limits) and health warnings with Quitline contact. Large retailers like this will be followed by smaller shops from July 1, 2010. 

All Australian jurisdictions have legislated for a similar result except South Australia, which still has inadequate display size restriction laws.

The NSW law includes duty-free shops - like the one below in central Sydney where the only sign of tobacco is a price board and health warning with Quitline details..

 

Specialist tobacconists in NSW can still display tobacco products until July 2013 - and some of the displays are shockers. Look at this tobacconist in Coffs Harbour NSW - its massive tobacco display (photographed 3/7/10) facing straight onto a crowded shopping mall. Tobacco is still in children's faces here, and very inconsistent with other retailers.

 

 

ACT

This photo was taken in May 2010 at a service station in the Australian Capital Territory.

 

Page last updated 5/7/10