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Doctors call for tobacco vendor licenses
02 September 2009.
AMA Victoria today called on the Brumby Government to implement the Preventative Health Strategy’s recommendation to introduce licensing fees for tobacco vendors.
The Taskforce’s report, released yesterday, urged State and Territory governments to amend legislation to require all tobacco outlets to be licensed and ensure fees were high enough to provide funds for education on the legislation and to ensure compliance.
AMA Victoria President Dr Harry Hemley said introducing a tobacco licensing fee would discourage some vendors from selling tobacco and could reduce smoking rates.
“Introducing licensing fees would make tobacco vendors think twice about whether they want to sell cigarettes. Any business can currently sell tobacco. Some vendors that sell small amounts of tobacco would baulk at the cost of a license to sell tobacco and would rather remove themselves from the market than pay a license fee.
“The reduced availability would make it far more difficult for smokers to buy tobacco, particularly after-hours. This could provide the nudge some smokers need to cut back or quit.
“A reduction in tobacco outlets would also make it more difficult for children to buy cigarettes, with a smaller pool of tobacco vendors to monitor for compliance.
Dr Hemley said Victorian legislation passed recently to prohibit point of sale tobacco displays from 2010 was a positive step to de-normalising smoking but the large number of tobacco retailers would make enforcement of this, and other new regulations, difficult.
“Licensing would ensure that enforcement efforts were targeted,” said Dr Hemley. “Currently, enforcement agencies have no way of knowing who is selling tobacco, so they are compromised in their ability to police current tobacco laws.
“Licensing would mean that all tobacco vendors would face scrutiny.”
AMA Victoria recommends an initial licensing fee of $1,000 in the first year, increasing by $250 each year. Substantial fines would be payable by vendors selling tobacco without a license.
Dr Hemley said the Victorian Government should take the lead in implementing the Preventative Health Taskforce’s recommendations and set a positive example to other governments that preventative health deserves high priority.
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