The power wall is a term used to describe retail store displays of tobacco products.
“These display walls are designed to tempt people to buy tobacco,” said Alana Byron, peer leader with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health’s Detox. “The tobacco companies make their harmful products seem normal by displaying them near chocolate and candy.”
Detox is a group of Guelph teens teens working to lobby against large tobacco companies and counter their advertising, which, they say, is aimed a youth.
The SWAT group is its Wellington County counterpart.
As of May 31, World No Tobacco Day, more than 10,000 stores in Ontario will see those walls come tumbling down.
Ontario retailers will be required to remove power walls and hide tobacco products from view before purchase. Local businesses have known about the ban since 2006, and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is working with vendors to ensure effective implementation. To bring awareness to the pending display ban, Detox and SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco), are teaming up with the Guelph Storm to show Youth Have the Power.
“This will be a fantastic opportunity to show fans that we have the power, not the tobacco industry,” said Alyssa Heathfield of SWAT. “As youth, we have the power to be free of the influence of tobacco-industry marketing.
“Their tactics have led far too many people to illness, disease, and death,” she said.
