Some tourist shops will be allowed to sell tobacco again

THE Balearic government will allow cigarette vending machines in shops in tourist areas, by modifying the regulations, to set up a new category of shops, putting them on the same level as hotels. The modifications are now being drawn up by the ministries of commerce, industry and energy and tourism.
The plans were revealed yesterday by Lluis Ramis de Ayreflor, the minister for finance, taxation and innovation, who presented the changes which will come into force automatically as soon as they are approved by Parliament. One of them refers to “a new category of establishment” in which “the sale of tobacco will be allowed in the terms laid down by State legislation.” It will have a specific section in the Trade Register, under the heading “tourist shops.” According to ministry of commerce sources, this allows the Balearic government “to open the possibility of shops in tourist areas to sell tobacco again.” However, in order to do so, they must seek permission from the ministry of health and consumer affairs to install the vending machines.
Ramis de Ayreflor denied that the government initiative would interfere with existing State regulations because “the sales conditions must be as laid down in the law” approved by the central government. But, he added, “these questions are always open to interpretation.” José Tirado, chairman of FECOTUR (Federation of Commerce, Leisure and Tourism Associations) expressed his satisfaction and thanked the government, adding that he hoped the vending machines could be installed by January. Tirado said that it had cost members a lot of time and effort, and they had had to petition many people in various organisations.
The only person who got really involved, he said, was Balearic leader Jaume Matas, who commissioned a report which uncovered the possibility of setting up the special category of “tourist shops.” The strict new anti-smoking laws introduced at the beginning of the year not only banned smoking in the workplace and all public buildings, but also restricted sales. This lead to complaints from many shops and newspaper kiosks, who said that they lost a large slice of their income.