The Norwegian government's recent proposal to ban the online sale of snus and other tobacco products has triggered strong reactions and heated debate. The idea is criticised from both the right and the left.
The proposal for a total ban on the sale of tobacco products online is the brainchild of the country's health minister, Jan Christian Vestre of the Labour Party, Norway's Social Democrats. Already last year, an attempt was made to push through such a bill, but it was voted down by the Norwegian Parliament. Now the government is trying again, with the hope that a new round of consultation responses will lead to the proposal being passed this time.
Criticism from the opposition on both sides
However, the proposal has quickly met with opposition, particularly from the Progress Party. They argue that banning online sales would favour the big grocery chains - which would effectively have a monopoly on snus sales, according to the right-wing party.
The small snus producer "Snusbonden", based in Trondheim, has been highlighted as an example of how online shopping has created new opportunities for small producers to reach customers, writes the Norwegian website Nettavisen. If online shopping is banned, they risk having to compete for expensive shelf space in supermarkets, which could become economically unsustainable, the newspaper says.
Cheaper online
However, the government hopes and intends that the ban will prevent sales to minors and facilitate controls on imports from abroad.
The price of snus is often cheaper online than in shops, and online snus purchases have therefore become increasingly common among Norwegian snus users. The debate in Norway has centred on the fact that this type of sale often lacks checks on the age of the buyer. Snus use in Norway has increased significantly since the early 2000s, according to statistics from 'A non-smoking generation', especially among young people.
Government defence: Protection of children and young people
The government also dismisses criticism that it is now trying to go behind the back of the Storting by returning with the proposal, and emphasises in Nettavisen that the proposal is now being sent out for consultation to gather views from interested parties.
- The most important thing for us is to protect children and young people," says Karl Kristian Bekeng, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, to Nettavisen.
Strong opposition to the proposal
He encourages small businesses like Snusbonden to submit their views during the consultation period and assures that all comments will be taken into account in the further legislative process.
Despite the government's attempts to appease critics, the opposition has continued to express strong opposition to the proposal. The Red Party, also known as Norway's Communist Party (which actually sits in Parliament) and the Socialist Left Party (Vänsterpartiet) have previously said no to a ban. The two parties are needed for the government to pass the proposal - but they both seem to be sticking to their previous positions.
No majority in Parliament
If these positions are not reversed, it is likely that the proposal will again be voted down by Parliament. The government seems to be hoping that the new round of consultations will change the minds of some parties, but until then the country will have to continue to balance the need for public health protection with the desire to protect the survival of small businesses.
