Tread carefully with tobacco legislation
Dear Editor,
Tobacco advertisement in wholesale stores or supermarkets, up to now, is forbidden and is not violating the rights or infringing on the privacy of anyone. For the past several years, the tobacco industry has focused its attention on the retail point-of-purchase in response to the advertising restrictions on the television, radio, billboards and other media. Point-of-sale purchase is one of the most important elements left to the industry through which it can promote its product among those who choose to smoke.
As a wholesale owner this is the only means by which I can sell cigarettes, marketing them at the point-of-sale with a clear health message about the risk of tobacco consumption that was provided by the manufacturer, which in my opinion, is quite responsible of them.
I support the efforts of the tobacco company in adopting certain restrictive measures on how it markets the product. Notwithstanding, I think people should be allowed to choose and be accountable for their actions without the big hand of government. Therefore, while I am in favour of the ban on smoking in public places to some extent, with properly designated areas for smokers and non-smokers, I think this kind of intrusion is dangerous and could lead to infringement of our fundamental rights and freedoms. The government should tread carefully on how it legislates on this tobacco issue.
In addition, my research has revealed that the cigarette industry provided government coffers with billions of needed revenue in the last fiscal year. The industry also employs hundreds of people. Could one not therfore conclude that the government’s action to prohibit tobacco advertising, marketing and distribution would actually discourage investment? The government needs to remember wholesalers like me.
J McCallum
Kingston