"We're not allowed to discuss the price of tobacco"

[GarlicBake]

This will have passed by most of you clean-living, sensible people. It's happened to me several times in the past month or so: staff say it's illegal for them to tell me the price of 20g of this or a packet of that. Neither are they allowed to show me the price list, which doesn't show special offers anyway, nor to open the Doors Of Doom so I can see the prices for myself.

This leads to a bizarre situation where I have to ask for a product and do a lightning scan of the shelf while the door's open, change my mind if I want - or ask the assistant for a variety of tobacco products, watch the prices as they go through the till, then cancel my purchase. And then start a new sale of the product I think is best value.

Apart from being very, very and ... doesn't this feel a bit like Orwell, Kafka, and the old USSR? Is speech becoming legally proscribed in other areas too, that I might not know about?

It's not the same as, say, patient confidentiality or corporate details. This is legislation that prohibits a salesperson from giving sales information to a customer. You can't even say it's for the customer's protection, as only addicts smoke these days and we're going to buy the stuff anyway.

AIBU to think this is U and slightly barmy?

tooMuch

I am at fags having to be covered to cross the shop floor!
I cannot for the life of me think of a logical explanation, so I am choosing to imagine hoardes of ravenous ex-smokers falling zombie like upon the poor shop worker, at the merest hint of a fag packet.
"fags......fags....fags"

You poor bloody smokers , I really feel for you now , it's ridiculous
Smokers aren't second class citizens

Bad. I might try it, at least I'll get an idea of what's in stock

I work for a supermarket.
We are not allowed to open the doors to show the stock if someone isn't sure what to get.
If you are over 18 you can look at the price list.
We are supposed to keep stock for replenishing the cupboard in a big red bag. In practice this rarely makes an outing.
Yes it is ridiculous but I for one am not going to rebel against my store policy and risk my job.
Suck it up.

Also at the number of people who look bamboozled and cannot think what fags to get when faced with The Doors Of Doom.

I have launched my mission. The Trading Standards website say to use the Citizens Advice helpline (they're relying on a charity??!) So I did. Thought I'd better get the professional viewpoint before starting a mass campaign!

-----------

RE: TRADING STANDARDS & TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

I have noticed that most retailers now refuse to provide product information, such as availability and price.

I understand The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion regulations, however I believe over-zealous compliance is causing retailers to contravene the Price Marking Order 2004 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Specifically:-

1. Pricing information must be available - that is, clearly visible to consumers without them having to ask for assistance in order to see it. (The information is actually being withheld.)

1. Goods that are kept out of the consumer's sight are exempt from price marking until an indication is given that they are for sale. (Obviously I'm not asking for tobacco from retailers who don't sell it!)

1. A commercial practice is a misleading omission if, in its factual context ... the commercial practice hides material information ... and as a result it causes or is likely to cause the consumer to take a transactional decision he would not have taken otherwise. (Since I'm unable to get comparative price information, I have frequently paid more for tobacco than I wanted to.)

In order to test whether my experience is unusual or commonly shared, I started a thread on Mumsnet which you may like to visit: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a2565368-Were-not-allowed-to-discuss-the-price-of-tobacco

This ridiculous situation appears to be causing widespread frustration and leads to customers making uninformed purchasing decisions due to sales information being withheld. The 'Display Ban' does allow retailers to open the gantry for customers to view the products, but most refuse to do so. The Trading Standards regulations actually require retailers to give price & product information but, again, most refuse.

I'm willing to contact major retailers myself to try and rectify this, but first I'd like you to tell me whether my readings of the relevant legislation are correct! I'd also like to know whether you have already addressed my issues, and what the outcome was.

-----------

You never know, we might even get An Expert on the thread

I remember buying singles for 10p from the shop in my school uniform... I haven't smoked for many year but do feel for smokers now

This is hilarious to read...it is so ridiculous though! I vape now, so don't have to go through this palaver. I can't imagine how anybody can afford to smoke now. I used to smoke 20 a day and it would cost me a fortune now.
I also used to go and buy a packet of 10 "for my dad" when I was about 12!

Either ban the sodding things or don't. Cigarettes now exist in some halfway state between legal and illegal. Bloody ridiculous.

Ooh Garlic well done!
I hope we do get someone on...it would be great to have the madness clarified!
When I went to buy some fags earlier I really couldn't help having a little smirk to myself, thinking anout this fred!

Don't forget to update us when you get a reply.

Government make far too much money from cigarettes to ban them.
I remember buying a single (left in a basket on the counter) for 10p too. Was positively encouraged then but has swung the other way now. If they are made illegal the cigarettes will be bought from illegal dealers who have imported them I'm sure.

Guess what I just did?! I went to Tescos online, and typed in 'cigarettes' and browsed the whole selection! I feel so naughty! I don't even smoke anymore, but if I did I'd smoke Silk Cut Silver. Dunno why, just like the look of the packet...

Can you still get those coloured cocktail cigarettes ?
They were so cool

Worth mentioning then the EU TPD comes into force in May. Packets with less than 20 fags banned, 30g minimum packet size of h/r tobacco, menthol fags banned in 4 years time. Ain't the EU great.

But you can't buy 20 smokes now.

What menthol fags banned in 4years? Wtf and why. I started smoking them in hope to give up like when I changed over to silk cut from B&H. Only way I've been able to quit is when I'm pregnant

And I still ask for 20 Richmond menthol super king even though there is only 19 in them

That's bad news Beezer put a real dampener on my evening. Will go and have a fag to cheer myself up

And no fancy packets either, flip top lids only and covered in warnings.
There hasn't been much publicity about it, what with a referendum coming up.
Becomes law on 20th May.

Not bothered about the fancy packaging. Hopefully the Doors of Doom will go in May if the packaging is covered in health warnings otherwise not much point of it? I can't imagine anyone buying 20 (17) fags and binning them when they notice the government warning

Sorry, poorly expressed, no fancy lids, just a plain flip lid. If I recall rightly L&B had a wierd pop up lid last time I bought a packet. This, apparently attracts kids.

I'm wondering when Sweden will catch up, since it's supposed to be some kind of forward thinking country...evidence of such I have yet to see.

They're still all on display here, and there's advertising too (amazing new double click cigarettes! such wow!) and you're even allowed to grab them off the shelf yourself (although it's at the checkout). E-cigarettes and the liquids are banned from sale. Any other nicotine replacement therapy is only available at the pharmacy. What does that say?

However, if you want any alcohol more than 3.5% ABV there is only one shop you can go to which is government controlled with no special offers, no brand switching, no advertising (except of alcohol free drinks) and it shuts at 3pm on a Saturday so there's always a queue coming out of the door at 2.55pm...

That's interesting to learn. Surprised about the alcohol laws.

I wasn't really surprised when I moved here, as Sweden has a reputation of being full of liberal drinkers but I've never seen anything that wouldn't happen in the UK in the same circumstances. They do the duty free runs here too (take a boat trip to an island out of Swedish waters and back again, opening the duty free shop on board during the hours they are over the border). Pubs aren't so common except in major towns (for the tourists and students) because alcohol costs a lot here, but just like in Britain most people are going about their lives in the daytime not shitfaced or spaced out.