Even with a point-of-sale ban, retailers are given incentives to promote tobacco
“In countries banning advertising and display of tobacco at point-of-sale, little is known about tobacco companies’ continuing promotion of products through incentives and benefits to retailers….” In a telephone survey of over 570 tobacco product retailers in Australia, one-third (33.3%) reported being offered at least one benefit from a tobacco company for doing something in return.
“Price discounts were the most frequently reported benefit (19.0%), followed by rebates (8.4%) and gifts (3.0%). Retailers also reported offers of prizes and incentives for increasing sales or demonstrating product knowledge. In return, retailers reported giving companies benefits such as prominence on the price list and/or in the tobacco cabinet and/or influence over the product range and stock levels.”
Authors conclude that: “Laws that ban the supply of benefits to consumers should be extended to also prohibit the provision of benefits to tobacco retailers.”
Watts C, Burton S, Freeman B, Phillips F, Kennington K, Scollo M, Lindorff K, Egger S. ‘Friends with benefits’: how tobacco companies influence sales through the provision of incentives and benefits to retailers. Tobacco Control. February 10, 2020. Online First. https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2020/02/10/tobaccocontrol-2019-055383.full
Evidence of retailer coaching and incentives has already been highlighted in past Thai research findings, and further action is indicated to stop this tobacco industry practice.
By Stephen Hamann
