Bottleshops welcome tobacco decision

Retailers will no longer be responsible for rotating the graphic health warnings on tobacco products sold in-store, following extensive lobbying from retailer groups including the Australian Liquor Stores Association (ALSA).

Federal Government Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury announced yesterday that the responsibility to rotate the sets of graphic health warnings on tobacco products will now fall to tobacco manufacturers and suppliers.

ALSA's Terry Mott said the initial requirement for retailers to audit the 14 graphic health warnings on stock every four months was unworkable and that he was pleased with the result.

"The amendment reinstates the onus of responsibility on tobacco manufacturers and importers rather than individual retailers to rotate graphic health warnings," said Mott.

"This will still achieve the government's objective without an unnecessary red tape and cost burden along with a real threat of prosecution on even the smallest liquor retailers."

Source: The Shout, 31 May 2013