Five months later, a new group was formed: the Association of Community Retailers (ACR). It described itself as a “grassroots organisation” representing the interests of “small, independent family-run retail outlets”, but it was actually run by Glenn Inwood, a Wellington lobbyist who represented Imperial Tobacco as well as the Japanese whaling industry. Most interestingly, ACR used to be called Stay Displays, which was focused on fighting tobacco display laws. Stay Displays was rebranded as the ACR and, in the process, broadened its focus to confectionery and alcohol.
By Keith Ng for NZ Drug Foundation