Chris Ogden, chief executive of TMA, the trade association for tobacco companies in the UK, said in a statement that the “government’s dictatorial approach to tobacco control is hardly conducive to changing consumer lifestyle choices.”
The full statement reads: “We welcome any new initiatives to crack down on the illicit trade in tobacco products, which undermines both public health policy and the legitimate industry. We have always said that these measures are an effective way to support youth access prevention and we have a proven track record of working closely with HMRC, UKBA and law enforcement agencies to combat the trade in illicit product.
"Other tobacco control measures, such as the tobacco display ban do nothing to meet public health policy objectives but will instead impose further unwarranted restrictions on legitimate businesses and private citizens alike.
"Rigorous application of proof of age requirements is a proven way of reducing youth smoking. The focus on measures that are not backed up by any credible evidence is a distraction from the need to enforce existing laws.
"It is contradictory to declare an intention to reduce illicit trade and then to favour ineffective measures, such as the display ban, that actually facilitate illicit trade."
TMA’s members are BAT, Gallaher (a member of the JTI Group) and Imperial Tobacco. (ci)