Group calls for tobacco licensing

Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) has called for tobacco retailers to be licensed after confirmation four retailers in Queenstown and Central Otago face prosecution and fines of up to $2000 each after allegedly selling tobacco to a minor.

The Otago Daily Times reported this week the retailers were caught during a Public Health South campaign targeting 20 dairies, petrol stations and "superettes" in Queenstown, Arrowtown, Alexandra and Roxburgh in August.

The campaign targeted retailers who had been the subject of complaints, were near schools or in areas where "many people smoked".

Ash director Ben Youdan said there were retailers who continued to prove they could not act responsibly "and the threat of a fine is clearly inadequate".

"We've seen many examples of sales to minors and there have been 30 convictions in the past year."

Mr Youdan said an option would be a register of tobacco retailers similar to the measure under consideration in Scotland in the Tobacco and Primary Services Bill.

Tobacco Control National Programme manager Karen Evison said there were no restrictions on who could sell tobacco products in New Zealand, which had a "negative licensing" regime for sellers of tobacco.

"Retailers and/or people who are repeat offenders [who sell tobacco to people under the age of 18] can be ordered by a court not to sell tobacco products for between one and three months."