Media Releases
Australian Association of Convenience Stores urges Government to reconsider swift introduction of tobacco tax hikes - 28th April 2010
The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) believes the decision to introduce a hefty tax on cigarettes is short-sighted and will fuel black market tobacco sales, hurting Australian small businesses.
The AACS believes the sweeping tax reforms that are expected to be introduced by the Federal Government within the next few days and result in an increase of $6.50 a packet will drive smokers to find alternative ways to purchase cigarettes.
“When cigarettes become more expensive consumers simply look for cheaper alternatives. The AACS is concerned that such a substantial tax hike will shift tobacco purchases away from legitimate, hard working retailers into a flourishing underground market,” said Sheryle Moon, Executive Director of AACS.
Full media release in PDF format here
AACS Media Release - Tobacco display ban regulation a threat to Australian small business 10th November 2009
Convenience stores face costs of up to half a billion
The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores is calling for urgent review of the tobacco display ban legislation amid warnings that the new regulations will result in extensive job losses and closures of Australian small businesses.
A new independent report undertaken by Deloitte1 predicts that Australian convenience stores face costs of up to half a billion dollars to comply with the display bans; the equivalent of 15,000 jobs.
Giving weight to these predictions, identical legislation introduced in Canada saw 1,875 convenience stores closed in 2008. On top of this, there is no evidence from Canada, or any other country that has introduced display bans, that the strategy has worked to decrease smoking, particularly youth smoking.
Full media release in PDF format here
AACS Media Release - Time to Stub Out Youth Smoking 10th November 2009
The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores is calling on the Federal Government to get serious about reducing youth smoking and make it illegal for under 18s to smoke.
Current legislation makes it illegal for retailers to sell tobacco to minors and heavy fines apply if they do, but the law contains no means to penalise young people for buying or smoking cigarettes.
AACS Executive Director, Sheryle Moon said that while education and awareness campaigns for young people are essential, until there is a real disincentive for kids to light up, we aren’t doing enough to reduce youth smoking.
“AACS is calling on our lawmakers to introduce prosecution and penalties for those who are caught in the act to show that they are serious about cutting youth smoking rates,” Ms Moon said.
Full media release in PDF format here
AACS Media Release - State of Industry Report 23rd Sept 2009
Newly published research findings from the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) on the convenience store sector, collated at the conclusion of 2008, underlines the impact the recession has had on the Australian economy, with 40% of survey respondents saying the economic situation negatively impacted on their business (with 40% not committing either way). The sector was upbeat, however, with 100% of respondents expecting business to grow in 2009.
Full media release in PDF format here
Published by Newsmaker