Area Tobacco Vendors are Meeting Ban Requirements
June 4, 2008 - As of Saturday, May 31st, 2008, there was a new look in retail establishments as the second stage of the Smoke Free Ontario Act came into place, banning tobacco displays from retail outlets. Gone are the large presentations of tobacco behind the counter (powerwalls) and local retailers have been very creative in their approach to the ban.
“Since it's the law I took the opportunity to rearrange my store to display other items better," said Ed Choquette of Cathy’s Discount, one of Thunder Bay’s largest tobacco vendors. The tobacco products at the store are now behind closed panels and Choquette plans to use the panels to advertise specials within the store.
Tom Fernyc of Fairway Variety, has moved tobacco products from his front window and has placed them in drawers behind the sales counter. Both he and his wife like the new system because the store seems larger and brighter since the windows are no longer blocked. Even customers have commented on the fact that they notice the store is brighter.
“I haven’t seen any negative impact on tobacco sales,” says Fernyc. “It was just a matter of the staff learning where the products are.”
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits all displays of cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipe tobacco, other specialty tobacco products and, notably, tobacco powerwalls – large displays of tobacco products typically positioned in front of customers at retail establishments.
The ban is the latest move by the province to prevent young people from starting to smoke, help smokers quit and protect people from second-hand smoke.
For the past six months, tobacco enforcement officers have been actively educating tobacco vendors on their responsibilities with in-person visits and information mail-outs. Follow-up visits since May 31st show a 100% compliance rate among Thunder Bay District vendors and a generally favorable view of the new law.
“We are very pleased with the retailers who have been very accepting of this new legislation and who see it as an opportunity to make some changes in their operation,” said Ken Ranta, Manager of Tobacco Programs. “The Health Unit will continue its commitment to work cooperatively with all tobacco vendors to support this transition.”
- end -