UW smoking researchers applaud ban on cigarette displays

WATERLOO - Two leading University of Waterloo experts on smoking cessation say the pending provincial ban on cigarette displays in Ontario's convenience stores will result in improved health among children and adults.

One of them, psychology professor Geoffrey Fong, is the principal investigator of a project that is evaluating tobacco control policies in 15 countries, inhabited by over half of the world's smokers. The other, health studies professor Paul McDonald, is a public health expert on smoking cessation.

The two professors say that the provincial ban on cigarette displays will have a potentially huge impact on the health of children. They say that restricting point of purchase advertising is an important and positive public policy to improve health among youth and adults.

They say the ban will also assist current smokers to quit smoking and help prevent former smokers from starting again. As well, emerging data suggests that, other than reductions in cigarettes sales, the impact on store owners is less than expected.

Professors Fong and McDonald are available to comment on the ban and its impact. McDonald, currently in New Zealand to help officials adopt similar cigarette display legislation, will return to Waterloo on April 30.

Prof. Geoffrey (Geoff) Fong, Psychology, University of Waterloo