The confirmation of plans to bring in a total ban on the display of tobacco were met with anger and confusion this week, as hopes of a recession-fuelled reprieve were dashed.
The absence of proposals from last week's Queen's Speech appeared to signal a let-off for the industry, with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson understood to have put pressure on fellow ministers to minimise the damage caused to retailers.
CTNs, C-stores and other small retailers were also unimpressed by the concession giving them until 2013 to remove the display, two years after the supermarkets must comply.
And there was confusion as the Government admitted it had not yet decided when to apply the ban to convenience shops owned by the multiples. The proposals refer to "larger shops" for 2011 and "smaller businesses" for 2013. Tesco said it was too early to tell where Tesco Express would fit in, while a Department of Health source said the criteria had yet to be decided.
"It is very confusing but I don't think they know how it is going to be worked out," said ACS CEO James Lowman. "It's deeply frustrating that while the Government is willing to dismiss robust expert evidence about the cost impact on retailers, it is willing to rely on inconclusive and flimsy evidence of the benefits of this measure."
The ACS has pledged to keep fighting the proposal. It still needed to go through Parliament, said Lowman, and as the Tories did not support the measure, a general election could also have a bearing.
The BRC also lashed out at the proposals. "It will impose thousands of pounds of pointless refit costs, ultimately met by customers, and create delays in stores," said director general Stephen Robertson.
Midcounties Co-op was alone among retailers in backing the ban. "As an ethical retailer we view this as vitally important in the fight against tobacco-related disease," said chief executive Ben Reid.
The absence of proposals from last week's Queen's Speech appeared to signal a let-off for the industry, with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson understood to have put pressure on fellow ministers to minimise the damage caused to retailers.
CTNs, C-stores and other small retailers were also unimpressed by the concession giving them until 2013 to remove the display, two years after the supermarkets must comply.
And there was confusion as the Government admitted it had not yet decided when to apply the ban to convenience shops owned by the multiples. The proposals refer to "larger shops" for 2011 and "smaller businesses" for 2013. Tesco said it was too early to tell where Tesco Express would fit in, while a Department of Health source said the criteria had yet to be decided.
"It is very confusing but I don't think they know how it is going to be worked out," said ACS CEO James Lowman. "It's deeply frustrating that while the Government is willing to dismiss robust expert evidence about the cost impact on retailers, it is willing to rely on inconclusive and flimsy evidence of the benefits of this measure."
The ACS has pledged to keep fighting the proposal. It still needed to go through Parliament, said Lowman, and as the Tories did not support the measure, a general election could also have a bearing.
The BRC also lashed out at the proposals. "It will impose thousands of pounds of pointless refit costs, ultimately met by customers, and create delays in stores," said director general Stephen Robertson.
Midcounties Co-op was alone among retailers in backing the ban. "As an ethical retailer we view this as vitally important in the fight against tobacco-related disease," said chief executive Ben Reid.
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