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National Federation of Retail Newsagents Backs Newsagent Member in Tobacco Lawsuit 

Donegal newsagent and NFRN member Maurice Timony will tomorrow morning lodge a High Court challenge to contest the Irish Governments ban on tobacco display. He is backed by the world's largest cigarette company Philip Morris in the joint lawsuit which seeks to overturn the ban on the display of tobacco products at retail stores in Ireland.

While the NFRN supports the Governments intentions on public health, a display ban is simply bad policy. Firstly, it is ineffective in stopping children smoking and helping adults quit. Secondly, without a coherent approach it will lead to further significant growth in illegal smuggled and counterfeit tobacco products - as already experienced in Ireland - to the detriment of both public health and retailers' livelihoods. Similarly, the NFRN`s newsagent members in the UK are not being listened to - NFRN members do not wish to resort to legal action but we may have no other options left open to us.

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