UPDATED: A member of the Isle of Wight Council has turned down an invitation to an exclusive VIP preview of the new Asda store in Newport in protest against the store’s plan to sell tobacco products.
Councillor Chris Whitehouse, who represents Newport West Ward, has taken a negative stance on the supermarket giant selling tobacco in-store.
Speaking about the situation, Cllr Whitehouse has said:
“The Isle of Wight Council has a responsibility to promote public health, so it would be quite wrong of me to accept an invitation to a Preview Tour and Reception from a company that fully intends to sell tobacco products.
“ASDA is sufficiently large, as part of the massive global retail chain Walmart, to have a business model that does not involve tobacco sales. As one who continually struggles to give up smoking, I want no part in promoting companies that deal in this market of death, and I have told ASDA so.
“It’s doubly ironic that ASDA’s current slogan is ‘Save money. Live better’, when cigarettes cost the earth and end smokers’ lives.”
The VIP event is scheduled for Saturday 19th August, just 2 days before the store opens to the public.
Cllr Whitehouse added:
“This means that ASDA still have time to change their minds and pull the smoking counter from their store in the interests of the health of their customers.
“I took the same position when the Cooperative Group wanted my support for a new store in Wellington Road, Newport, aimed in part at the thousands of children who go to school in and around Wellington Road. I asked them not to sell tobacco, but they refused, and the store, thankfully, never went ahead.”
UPDATE: The Isle of Wight Council’s Director of Public Health has commended Councillor Whitehouse on the stance he has taken in relation to ASDA’s VIP tour and reception for councillors.
Dr Rida Elkheir has emailed Cllr Whitehouse saying:
“I salute you on your strong principled statement and action” and goes on to advise that his Department is proposing that the Isle of Wight Council is even more proactive in future in identifying, encouraging and praising workplaces and businesses that take health and wellbeing seriously”.
Cllr Whitehouse added:
“It’s great to have the backing of the Island’s top public health professionals for what I admit is little more than a token gesture, but if all those in healthcare and local government on the Island do their bit, we might get life expectancy and quality of life to improve for everyone.”
