Reduction of tobacco product sales outlets in the Netherlands

On March 3, 2020, a majority in the Dutch parliament voted to end tobacco sales in supermarkets and gas stations. All political parties, except the three right-wing liberal parties, supported a motion calling on the government to require supermarkets and gas stations to voluntarily stop selling tobacco products. If they do not agree to this implementation by 2022, they will be legally required to do so by that date. Reducing the number of tobacco outlets is one of the main changes that health organizations in the Netherlands, particularly the Youth Smoking Prevention Foundation, have advocated. Making tobacco products more expensive and harder to access is the most effective way to deter young people from starting to smoke. Estimates of the number of tobacco outlets in the Netherlands range from 30,000 to 60,000. The 6,300 supermarkets sell 50% of all tobacco in the Netherlands, generating an annual turnover of €2.1 billion (6.2% of total turnover). The Netherlands also has more than 2,000 petrol stations that sell tobacco. These sales account for 60% to 75% of the retail turnover, excluding petrol, in these stores. Supermarkets and petrol stations are places where young people can easily obtain tobacco. Recent figures from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority revealed that 65% petrol stations and 27% supermarkets were not complying with age restrictions for tobacco sales.[1]This is an important reason to restrict the number of sales locations, preferably through a licensing system, to specialized outlets that sell only tobacco. In 2018, 65% of the population were of the opinion that tobacco sales should be limited to designated tobacco shops. This provision is part of an overall strategy to reduce consumption by "denormalizing" products. The objective is thus to "de-trivialize" their consumption. Measures limiting access to products, particularly for young people, are part of this, as is the national prevention agreement including tax increases, the removal of cigarette packet displays, the introduction of plain packaging in 2020 and the removal of vending machines from 2022. ©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1] Hefler M, Baker J Worldwide news and comment Tobacco Control 2020;29:247-249. ©National Committee Against Smoking |