Austrian Tobacconists Demand Exclusive Rights to New Tobacco Products
While the number of smokers in Austria has declined, the use of new tobacco products, such as nicotine pouches and vapes, is increasing, according to an ORF report on December 26th. Otmar Schwarzenbohler, president of the Lower Austrian Tobacconists Association, noted that many young people have begun to switch from traditional cigarettes to these new products, which should therefore also be sold in tobacco stores.
Tobacconists call on new government to enact nicotine laws
Currently, 1,000 of Austria’s more than 4,500 tobacco stores are located in Lower Austria, and these stores have a monopoly on the sale of tobacco products, accounting for 70 percent of their business. However, new tobacco products are not part of this monopoly. In response, the chairman criticized, “These products are now sold in vending machines together with candy, soft drinks, etc.”
Schwarzenböhler proposed that in the future all nicotine products could only be sold in tobacco stores. He pointed out that the current tobacco law is 240 years old and needs to be adapted to modern times and transformed into a nicotine regulation that is in line with the times. He emphasized that in Austria, tobacco products are only allowed to be sold to people over the age of 18 and that individual federal states can set additional regulations under youth protection laws. While tobacco stores set an age limit of 18 years, this limit is often ignored in vending machines and certain stores.
In addition, he mentioned that many tobacco stores would close down if no new laws were introduced. Of the 1000 tobacco stores in Lower Austria, only 20 may remain in the future. He also believes that existing social programs will also be affected, as vacant stores can only be allocated to people with a disability level of 50% or more. Currently, 1,218 people with disabilities run tobacco stores in Austria or 55% of the total.
The tobacco industry hopes that the new Austrian government will include nicotine-related regulations in its governance plan to safeguard the livelihoods of the many tobacco store operators.
