Roadshow to promote plain packs

Published: 28/05/2012

Windsor Castle will be a backdrop to a lively road show that will provide information about the consultation on plain packaging of cigarettes on Saturday June 2.
Plain packaging ambassadors, all day, will approach locals and UK tourists alike to promote the online petition and campaign website: http://www.plainpacksprotect.co.uk/.

The petition backing the plain packaging has already been signed by more than 50,000 people. It will be submitted for consideration by the government as part of its consultation.

Every year 340,000 children in England try smoking and 200,000 under-16s become regular smokers. Research shows they are more likely to be attracted by the designed promotional tobacco packs, than by plain packaging.

Evidence suggests that the impact of health warnings is lost on branded packs. Some brands are marketed in shiny packs or as ‘super slims’ which are particularly attractive to young women. By introducing plain packaging, the health warnings will become bigger and more eye-catching against a plain background.

Director of Public Health for NHS Berkshire East, Pat Riordan said, “The idea behind this proposal is to stop packaging itself acting as an advert to youngsters, tempting them into a highly-addictive habit that could seriously damage their health and lead to an early death. We urge people to participate in the consultation and make their views about plain packaging heard.”

If introduced, this new legislation will help to discourage children from smoking, as it will:
• make tobacco packaging look less attractive
• increase the effectiveness of health warnings
• prevent the use of misleading colours and branding to create false beliefs that some cigarettes are less harmful than others

The government’s consultation closes on 10 July. For details, visit: http://consultations.dh.gov.uk/

ENDS
Archana Sharma
Communications and Media Adviser
archana.sharma@berkshire.nhs.uk
Tel: 0118 982 2944