By Devi Ramachandran
New tobacco proposals to limit display of products through advertising and window displays are receiving mixed reactions from independent Centretown businesses.
One smoke shop owner fears the new proposals will affect sales while others say sales will continue as usual.
The proposals suggest ways of displaying tobacco products with accompanying health messages as well as limiting displays to a single location, restricting the surface area of displays and the number of packages on display.
The new proposals, in addition to the Tobacco Act, are in the form of a public consultation document. It raised a few eyebrows among small retailers but the reaction was more one of confusion. Most retailers do not see how the suggestions will “protect young Canadians from inducement to smoke,” which Health Minister Allan Rock announced was the government’s intention.
“The more we can limit their exposure to tobacco promotions in places such as corner stores, the better the long-term odds are that they will remain or become non-smokers.” Rock said in a statement to the press.
The Tobacco Act identifies tobacco-related products as including accessories such as matches and lighters that have brand names on them. These accessories, along with cigars and cigarettes, are usually displayed in windows and on shelfs of speciality smoke shops.
The Act also has provisions for signs that indicate the availability of tobacco products within the store particularly their placement, number, size, and the information on them.
One retailer said the proposals will not induce smokers to quit but will affect sales.
“It will definitely affect sales. I can’t tell you how. I can’t see into the future,” said Alex Costanza, acting manager at Tony’s Smoke Shop on Elgin Street.
Mags and Fags manager Shannon Graves, says the store gets most of its money, if not all, from tobacco sales. The store also has an elaborate cigarette and cigar display in its front window.
“Displays have nothing to do with the number of cigarettes people are buying,” she said.
Graves, whose store sells everything from chewing tobacco to pipe tobacco, thinks the proposals will not have any impact on customers or on the sales.
“Warning labels did nothing.
“People are not going to stop buying cigarettes just because displays are not as attractive,” she said.
Out of sight, out of mind is what Health Canada’s new proposals for tobacco legislation intends.
But cutting down on cigarette ads and elaborate displays in store windows will not change the mind of smokers, say smoke shop owners in Ottawa.
“If someone wants to smoke, they’re going to smoke,” said Graves.
“I don’t really believe any of the regulations will affect my business,” said John Tso, manager of Clemow Smoke Shop on Bank Street.
“If people wanna smoke they will,” he said. “I don’t put too much on the shelf, just one of a kind, that’s it.”
Although the Act does not mention small businesses, vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, Garth Whyte, said they are still a part of the producer-consumer equation. As the middlemen, independent businesses should not be penalized, he said.
“The intent is to target producers and consumers and not to hurt the retailer,” Whyte said.
The CFIB is watching the legislation closely and does not think things will change much except for the general appearance.
Whyte said some retailers might have to move display cases to the back of the store. “It doesn’t however impact small retailers and sales directly.”
“People don’t rely too much on ads,” said Andrew McCloskey, an employee at Britton’s Smoke Shop. He said Britton’s gets seven to eight per cent of its revenue from cigarette sales. “People know what they want and come in and buy it.”