The Straits Times ran a pretty on-point forum letter on Monday morning, on NTUC FairPrice's initiative of installing an opaque cigarette vending machine in one of its supermarket outlets on a trial basis.

Written by one Liu I-Chun, the letter cited guidelines from the United Nations World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control regarding the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products, in particular this portion:

She writes,

"The mere presence of these prominent dispenser machines, sans branding notwithstanding, reminds people of cigarette availability. After all, advertising is, in essence, association, implication and conditioning."

But wait, there's more. She adds that despite what the supermarket chain CEO and Marine Parade MP Seah Kian Peng says about FairPrice "support(ing) the government's efforts in protecting the health of Singaporeans", this precise action his company is taking runs counter to his claim:

"Unfortunately, FairPrice's latest venture suggests that it has no intention of giving up this easy money-spinner, which runs counter to its corporate philosophy of doing good for the community.

FairPrice should adhere to WHO guidelines by not using tobacco vending machines and scale down tobacco sales."

Let's see you folks take the lead on this, eh, FairPrice?

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S’pore introducing super tedious way to buy cigarettes to deter smokers from buying cigarettes

Top photo: Screenshot from video

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