PLANS to ban shops from displaying tobacco products could put some of them out of business,
it is feared.
The government has unveiled proposals to move the sale of all tobacco
products under the counter to prevent young people smoking.
But, if given the go-ahead, some Worthing shopkeepers predict hard times could follow.
Arun Kavander, 49, of the Premier convenience store, in Montague Street, said: "Many, maybe all of us, will go out of business. People come in for cigarettes and buy other things as well."
These worries are backed up by the Centre for Enterprise and Business Research, which suggests 2,600 independent shops could cease to be profitable and 8,000 jobs lost because of the initiative.
Despite this pessimistic outlook, other stores in Worthing did not think the measure would make much difference.
Karan Kanapathillai, 40, of the Montague shop, in Montague Street, said: "It will only have a little effect. People will still smoke; they know the names."
One store owner who sells cigarettes was in favour of the move.
Karin Sherma, 34, manager of Chapel News, in Chapel Road, said: "Smoking is bad for people, so I think this is a good thing."
Emma Gadd, 38, had an alternative approach to curbing youth smoking.
"Children should be shown autopsies and people dying from emphysema
and cancer."
The owner of the Little Health Food Shop, in Montague Street, added: "Until people are shocked into realisation, they'll never
learn."
One Worthing teenager agreed the measures would have little effect. Mark McNeil, 17, of Shakespeare Road, said: "It really doesn't matter where they are.
"If they need fags, they buy them. I need 'em, I buy 'em."
Parliamentary hypocrisy was a charge levelled by one local smoker.
Tom Thomas, 45, of West Tarring, said: "What sticks in my craw is the government takes all the tax from cigarettes, then tells us not to smoke."
It is expected the government will make an announcement on the policy proposal within the next few weeks.
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