Marton shop receives award

A shop in Marton was today presented an award by the Asthma Foundation for not selling tobacco products.

The Marton Barber on Broadway was presented with a Smokefree Retailers Award by a local iwi representative on behalf of the Foundation.

“It is pleasing to see leadership from within the community to tackle the devastating effects of tobacco use,” says MidCentral DHB tobacco control officer, Barry Thackwell.

“In addition to all of the other negative outcomes associated with smoking, cigarette smoke is a pernicious trigger of asthma and contributes significantly to poor respiratory health in New Zealand, “Barry says.

“The vast majority of New Zealanders with emphysema smoke or used to.”

“Anyway, for a shop to put people’s health before profit is tremendous, it is hard to argue that this is not the right thing to do.”

“If more shops took the same stance I’m sure we would be on top of the tobacco epidemic. I look forward to receiving the results on a consultation to remove tobacco displays across the country.”

The Smokefree Retailer Awards have been presented to over 35 shops that have voluntarily stopped displaying or stopped selling tobacco products.

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