Cigarette health warnings ‘not up to the job’ in North East
Barely a third (36%) of teenagers in the North East are deterred from smoking by current cigarette packs, compared to half (48%) of teenagers in Australia, where packs are almost entirely covered by graphic warnings, according to a unique cross-hemisphere survey.
The British Heart Foundation’s poll1 of 558 13- to 18-year-olds in the North East and Australia, the first country in the world to adopt standardised cigarette packs last year, revealed more than 8 in 10 (81%) teenagers in the North East think the UK should introduce standardised cigarette packs.
And the survey also paints a picture of support for standardised packs from Australia’s youth with nearly 6 in 10 (59%) saying the packs make people their age less likely to smoke. Two thirds (66%) of Australian teens think the packs should be introduced elsewhere in the world.
Worryingly, 12 per cent of teenagers in the North East make the incorrect assumption that certain cigarette brands are healthier than others – more than double the number (5%) of Australian teens.
The European Parliament is tomorrow set to vote on key legislation that would see cigarette packs across the EU feature larger graphic health warnings on both sides of the box.
Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation, said: “The message from our young people in the North East is loud and clear: current health warnings aren’t up to the job and the UK Government must step up and introduce standardised packs.
“Smoking kills 100,0002 people in the UK every year and we simply can’t wait any longer for legislation. Australia has led the way on standardised packs, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland have committed, and now the rest of the UK must act to protect future generations from a deadly habit.”
Later this month, the House of Lords will also be debating a cross-party amendment to the Children and Families Bill, which could help standardised packaging become a reality in the UK. Under the reform, cigarette packs will be a generic size which, research shows, makes warnings about the harmful effects of cigarettes stand out more.
Mr Gillespie added: “The evidence shows standardised packs increase the effectiveness of health warnings and lessen the appeal of cigarettes, particularly among young people, so it’s imperative MEPs vote for larger health warnings and then peers agree to amend the Children and Families Bill.”