Fresh statement re: Government’s decision to postpone plans to introduce standardised packaging
A decision to shelve proposals to cut tobacco marketing on cigarette packs has been described by Fresh as a “letdown” to the thousands of North East children who start smoking each year.
The Government’s announcement that it will not introduce standardised packaging for cigarettes and other tobacco products at the current time, but will keep the policy under review, has also been called a “tame surrender” to the tobacco industry, according to the Smokefree Action Coalition, an alliance of more than 150 organisations committed to promoting public health
Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, said: “This is a letdown to every child and every parent who doesn’t want their child to start to smoke. However, we still believe it is just a matter of time before we will see standardised packs become law.
“Most smokers start as children and evidence clearly shows standardised packs would reduce the appeal of glossy cigarette and tobacco brands to young people. That is why tobacco multinationals have fought so hard to stop it happening. To them profits are more important than people’s lives. Children who have seen standardised packs say they are much less appealing.
“While nothing is done, 9,000 North East children will start smoking each year and tobacco multinationals will be able to attract young people to an addictive, lethal product through glamorous packs, slims and glossy holograms. Do we really want a product that kills half of all long term smokers and contains over 4000 chemicals continued to be gift wrapped like sweets or chocolate?”
Last year more than 13,500 people and 129 organisations in the North East – including every local authority – came out in support of standardised packs during the Department of Health consultation.
Despite reductions in smoking, the North East still has higher than average rates of young people smoking and taking up the addiction, with 9,000 children starting each year, according to figures from Cancer Research UK. The average age that North East smokers started is just 15, with some starting as young as 9 years old.
Standardised packs were introduced in Australia in December. Evidence shows they would make tobacco packs less attractive and end the deception that some cigarettes are less harmful than others.
The latest opinion poll shows standardised packaging is supported by 63 per cent of adults, with just 3 per cent strongly opposing.