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“
Opposition
from tobacco retailers to putting cigarettes out of sight in shops has
been slammed in a new study as “contradictory, flawed and
unsupported by evidence”. Australian
health and child welfare organisations have reacted by urging
Australian governments to resist dodgy arguments and act on the
evidence. The
study, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal*, examined
arguments for and against display bans in New Zealand with reference
to international experience, research studies, and interviews with
smokers, ex-smokers and retailers. The
authors concluded: “Arguments for tobacco displays are
contradictory, flawed, and unsupported by local and international
research evidence, and by the overseas experience of tobacco-free
display policies.” The
study found strong evidence an out-of-sight policy would protect
children and support quitters. On the other hand it found no evidence
for arguments for continued display of tobacco based on claimed
“financial losses for retailers”, “economic disadvantages for
small stores”, “normality/legality” of tobacco, “lack of
evidence of effectiveness”, or staff safety/security. Said
Anne Jones, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
Australia: “These
same flawed arguments have been used by NSW retailers to the
government, after being whipped up by a Philip Morris scare
campaign.” Putting
tobacco totally out of sight in shops is supported by 40 health, child
welfare, parenting, church and community organisations.** “The
Iemma Government must put protecting the health of children from
addictive drugs ahead of unsupported and self-interested arguments of
tobacco pushers”, says Anne Jones. * Full study at www.ashaust.org.au/lv4/RetailNZstudy0806.pdf
**
See list of supporting organisations at
www.ashaust.org.au/lv4/ProtectChildrenEndorsements.htm
Comment: Media
info:
Stafford Sanders, ASH Australia
ph. (02) 9334-1823; m.
0412-070-194
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Page last updated 2/7/08 |
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