Retailer
LETTER TO YOUR CUSTOMER
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Note to the Retailer
The Government’s proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes a ‘generational sales ban’ on the sale of tobacco products which will mean that anyone born after 2008 will never be able to buy tobacco. This policy, if it becomes law, will have a major impact on your customers’ freedom of choice and may result in a significant downturn in your business. The policy as currently drafted includes cigars, pipe tobacco, cigarillos and snuff under its blanket approach, yet there has been no evidence cited that supports the notion that these ‘Other Tobacco Products’ (or OTPs) contribute in any way to the adoption of smoking cigarettes by the young – the stated aim of the legislation.
Below is a template letter which you can use to raise awareness with your customers. It briefly explains the issue and invites them to visit the www.useyourvoice website in order to learn more, and to download a suite of tools that will enable them to have their voice heard.
The aim of this activity is to make all Members of Parliament aware that the original Impact Assessment was woefully flawed, and to suggest the following amendment:
• An exclusion of cigars, pipe tobacco, ciagrillos and snuff (OTPs) from the generational smoking ban, as they do not contribute to the initiation of smoking among the young.
Unless customers make their views known to Government, and unless they encourage their friends to do the same, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill might come into force without the required amendment having been made. This would be disastrous for your business but will also mean your customers will lose their freedom of choice as more and more manufacturers give up on the UK market and cease trading here.
[use headed paper or
insert your business name
and postal address]
[insert date]
Dear [insert customer’s name]
Ref: The failings of the proposed ‘Generational Sales Ban’
I am writing to you in order to raise your awareness of a serious issue that risks taking your freedom of choice away from you.
You may already be aware that the Government’s proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes a ‘generational sales ban’ on the sale of tobacco products which, if it becomes law, will mean that anyone born after 2008 will never be able to buy tobacco.
However, you may not be aware that the ban covers all tobacco products, not just cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco. This means that the sale of cigars, pipe tobacco, cigarillos and snuff will also become outlawed – despite there being no evidence that these ‘Other Tobacco Products’ or OTPs contribute in any way to the adoption of smoking cigarettes by the young – the stated aim of the legislation.
As time goes on, manufacturers of cigars and other tobacco products will cease trading in the shrinking UK market, and your freedom of choice will be lost.
The Conservative Government under Rishi Sunak undertook an Impact Assessment of the new Bill, but it was hastily drawn up and extremely poorly considered. The new Labour Government was supportive of the original draft of the Bill, and it is likely that they will endeavour to pass it onto the statute books soon. It is imperative that certain amendments be made to the Bill before it is too late, in order to protect your freedom of choice.
The aim is to make all Members of Parliament aware that the original Impact Assessment was woefully flawed, and to suggest the following amendment:
- An exclusion of cigars, pipe tobacco, cigarillos and snuff (OTPs) from the generational smoking ban, as they do not contribute to the initiation of smoking among the young.
If you value your freedom of choice, if you object to the Government placing a ban on something without having a full understanding of the subject, then now is the time to use your voice.
There is a suite of tools at www.useyourvoice.uk that you can download and use, which includes:
- A template letter that can be sent to your local MP, providing full details of the failings of the original Impact Assessment, and urging your MP to ask that the Bill be amended to exempt OTPs.
- Pre-made social media images and animations that you can share across your social media channels in order to raise awareness of the issue among your friends and followers.
Please visit www.useyourvoice.uk for more details and to view and download the Freedom Tool Kit. By doing so, you will taking a huge step towards protecting your freedom of choice.
Yours sincerely,
[add your signature]
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