BAT 2541.27p About us Our products How we work Sustainability Investors Media Reporting Careers Retail display bans Driving tobacco underground Some countries have banned the display of tobacco products in shops. Instead of being on display, the products are hidden under the counter, or behind curtains or screens, making it hard for customers to know what is available. These bans are based on claims that displays encourage people to smoke – especially children – and also demotivate smokers from quitting. The evidence In our view, there’s no clear evidence that display bans have any significant effect on smoking rates – either among children or adults. In Ireland, the first studies conducted after the introduction of the 2009 display ban suggested there was no observable change in adult smoking prevalence. Unintended consequences With tobacco products hidden from view, consumers may struggle to tell whether their purchases are legitimate or black market products. For smaller retailers, display bans could mean being hit with potential refitting costs. It could also mean potentially losing out to larger competitors, as consumers might assume larger stores are more likely to stock their favourite brand. Canadian retailers subject to a retail display ban report that transactions generally take longer, with increased risk of miscommunication and error by retrieving the wrong product for the customer. Shop workers also need to turn their back to the service counter for longer periods, increasing the potential for theft. Distorting competition Display bans obstruct and distort free market competition among tobacco companies and their right to communicate with adult consumers about legally available products. On a purely economic basis, display bans could even lead to increased consumption by encouraging adult smokers to choose products solely on price. A switch to a cheaper brand – or cheap illegal cigarettes – could result in people smoking more. The alternatives Instead of display bans, we’d like to see stronger enforcement of minimum age laws, harsher penalties for retailers caught selling tobacco products to underage smokers and legislation that makes it illegal for adults to buy cigarettes for children. Strong relationships are key Working with retailers A united response to a global problem Fighting the black market How we work Corporate behaviour Regulation Reduced-risk products regulation Plain packaging Retail display bans Alternative crops Ingredients bans Pricing and tax The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Campaigning and engagement Illegal tobacco trade Sustainable agriculture and farmer livelihoods Human rights and modern slavery Environment and climate change Supply chain management Home How we work Regulation Retail display bans Follow us Latest tweets BAT @BATplc #ICYMI: BAT’s commitment to #diversity and #inclusion has been rewarded with a significant piece of recognition. W… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 26 Nov Check out our Quarterly Science Updates to find out more about the and accelerating BAT's… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 25 Nov Current UK share price 2541.27p -70.23p 26 Nov 2021 16:45 Quick Links Modern Slavery Statement Gender Pay Report Annual Report Sustainability Report Science and Technology Report Share price data Worldwide websites Standards of Business Conduct Site map Contact us BAT Globe House 4 Temple Place London WC2R 2PG +44 (0) 20 7845 1000 Accessibility Privacy Notice Cookie Notice Conditions of use Financial information We collect and store information on your device when you use this website including setting cookies. Some are essential, while others are used to enhance your experience, and to operate and improve the website. You can withdraw your consent at any time for non-strictly necessary cookies. Please choose the accept all button if you consent for us to use these non-strictly necessary cookies and the personal information they collect for the purposes described in our Cookie Notice. Accept all cookies Disable non-essential Customise settings