With the tough new tobacco laws in New South Wales and similar moves announced or being considered for other states, and overseas, I wonder if this is a category we either quite of more fully embrace. Tobacco products, for many newsagents, are offered but not well managed. The new laws in NSW require stronger management or exiting the category – selling tobacco products from one sales point in crazy in a retail business like a newsagency.
From what I can see, newsagents have let these changes come into play without much lobbying or the presentation of an alternative to help the government achieve its goals.
Steven Denham writes about the challenges of changes to tobacco retailing in the UK at his Village Counter Talk blog. He is championing a campaign along the line of the Canadian We Expect ID campaign.
Newsagent associations in Australia need to become engaged on this issue. Newsagents need to be come engaged. Tobacco retailing, if you remain with the category, now requires active management engagement. Otherwise, you face fines for even the smallest infraction.
If, as I suspect will happen, many newsagents decide to quit the category, they will need a plan on how to use the space and cash quitting will free. Either way, this is an opportunity for newsagents to lead change rather than react.
We have chosen to embrace tobacco products for now and are seeing an increase in trade as a result. While smaller corner stores are exiting cigs we have reorganised our display to comply with the new laws with little to no more effort on our part.
The law about only being able to sell from one pos is stupid to say the least but workable for us so we are seeing good growth in cig sales as well as the add on like confectionery and newspapers.
Has anyone had an inspection from a compliance inspector?
We did recently and unfortunately a staff memeber sold cigarettes to a minor. Both the staff memeber and I haven’t received any paperwork or notices, we both feel in the dark in this situation.
We are very diligent in checking id for all over 18 products and ensuring we’re up to date with the latest information.
Our staff member has been asked to make a statement at the local police station??? charged? who knows.
If so it seems very extreme and harsh for a first offence, certainly something that could put a young persons life into a nose dive.
Paul, was the minor a ‘plant’?
I believe authorities are using this method with good results, unfortunately.
It makes us almost paranoid about asking to see ID.