The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Cigarette packaging plans could force shops to close
OWNERS OF local shops say they could be forced to close if Scottish Government plans to introduce plain cigarette packaging is given the green light.
Dozens of newsagents throughout Dunfermline and Rosyth took part in a survey arranged by Philip Morris International in Scotland, which has revealed the devastating impact of the plans on local convenience stores.
For many of these traders, tobacco sales account for half of their revenue.
Now the shop owners have advised ministers of the need to improve education on the issue among younger generations rather than penalise shops that provide a lifeline for many local communities.
Faisal Aslam, the owner of Nisa Local on Admiralty Road in Rosyth, argued that the proposed measures, which would come in addition to recent legislation on display shutters, will make no difference to the current habits of smokers.
“Tobacco sales account for a large chunk of my revenue — about 50%,” he said. “People who smoke will always smoke. “I would say to the Scottish Government that what they’re doing is wrong. Will they target confectionery and alcohol next?
“Educating kids from a younger age might have a better impact.”
Shutters on display cabinets are already compulsory in larger stores and Mr Aslam, who has run his shop for three and a half years, took the drastic measure of reducing the size of his premises so that he can keep openly displaying tobacco products.
“I reduced the size of the store so I don’t have to put shutters up,” he explained.
“With shutters due to come in across all stores in April 2015, I think I would lose around 20% of income.
“It would have a big impact, and although I can’t say for certain that I’d close, I would have to consider it.”
Shahnwaz Raja, 27, who runs Raja Bros ( Premier) in Inchkeith Drive in Dunfermline, believed the Government has become too heavyhanded in its approach to tobacco legislation.
“They’re changing everything with cigarettes — the cost to the consumer has now changed three times a year,” said Mr Raja.
“The main purpose of the Government is to stop people smoking, but if they want to stop, they will.
“They are not going to stop with plain packaging or shutters.”
A 2013 study by the respected Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) concluded plain packs would result in a £30 million loss in revenue to small Scottish retailers, as well as 3,200 jobs and the closure of 700 shops.
Recent figures from HMRC’s Tobacco Tax Gap report have shown £1 billion of the total £10bn revenue loss since 2009-10 can be attributed to the illicit tobacco trade in Scotland.
“The main purpose of the Government is to stop people smoking...”
Shahnwaz Raja
Opponents of the Scottish Government’s plans argue illicit trade could increase as cigarette packaging would become cheaper and easier to counterfeit.