7-Eleven Cigarette Charges Dropped

[george]

Cigarette charges dropped

BANGKOK: -- Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat is to drop charges against 7-Eleven convenience stores after CP Seven Eleven Plc announced it would put cigarette packets out of sight behind phone cards.

After a meeting yesterday involving representatives of the police, the Council of State, the Attorney-General’s Office, and the Finance, Commerce and Public Health ministries, Pinij said the authorities had received full cooperation from Family Marts, 7-Eleven stores and retail stores in petrol stations not to display cigarette packets.

On Thursday CP Seven Eleven announced that its convenience outlets would put cigarette packets out of sight. Earlier, 7-eleven stores defied the government’s ban on displaying cigarettes at points of sale by refusing to hide them from customers.

“This is a victory for the people, for youth, for lecturers and media members,” Pinij said, adding that he would drop all charges against the 7-Eleven stores “because the government should also use political principles and not just the law.”

However, on Monday officials and police will inspect stores and proceed with legal action against those still displaying cigarettes, he said.

A committee in charge of approving the design of cigarette displays also ruled yesterday that two designs proposed by the 7-Eleven chain were still forms of advertising and could therefore not be implemented, Disease Control Department deputy director-general Dr Narong Sahamethaphat said.

The stores proposed either locating cigarettes behind a cashier or mixing cigarette packets with chicken-soup concentrate or bird’s-nest beverages.

Narong said the Internal Trade Department had also informed him that it had taken tobacco products, including cigarettes, off a list of goods needing to have prices displayed. However, the move will on the part of the Finance Ministry.

CP Seven Eleven deputy managing director Prasit Chakadtham said the company had informed all of its branches to cover cigarette packets on the shelves with phone refill cards “to show its business sincerity”.

Customers will not see the cigarette packets or logos because the sales staff will not pull the phone cards out of the shelves to sell them. The stores have a policy of insisting that its salespeople never turn their backs on customers, he said.

Cigarettes will remain behind the counter because they are a commodity in need of restrictions to prevent sales to people under 18, he said.

--The Nation 2005-11-19

[Kringle]

Was just at a 7/11 down the road and the way they hide them is funny. They put phone cards in front of the packs. Still another stupid law in Thailand. Wonder how that wife bowing law is coming?

[John K]

Hmmm does not the PM make a profit from the phone cards?

[frodo]

Hmmm does not the PM make a profit from the phone cards?

Yes, he does. I had the greatest laugh while buying ciagrettes in a 7-11 a few days ago. What did I see? AIS phone cards covering the cigarettes. "AIS the proud and official sponser of cigarettes."

[AmeriThai]

I suspect the proposal to mix ciggies in with the chicken soup was intended as sarcasm. I'm also inclined to think there was a humorous reason to hide them behind the phone cards. Perhaps a bit of creative nose-thumbing?

[JRinger]

Cigarettes will remain behind the counter because they are a commodity in need of restrictions to prevent sales to people under 18, he said.

Sales of alcohol to underaged kids is ok? I see it often...