Australia: Tobacconist Claims Plain Packaging Laws aren''t Working

Source from:  The Chronicle  01/16/2013

The owner of Free Choice Tobacco said there had actually been an increase in sales since the new laws were enforced.
 
"Every year people make new year's resolutions to quit, so this could end up being more of an incentive," he said.

 

"I believe that if cigarettes are legally obtained in Australia they shouldn't have the plain packaging."
 
Mr Anderson said if the government didn't want people smoking they should just ban it.
 
"If it is legal it should be left alone, and if it's really that bad it should be illegal," he said.
 
"I know smoking isn't good for you, that's why I don't smoke, but I bought this business to make money."
 
Rachel Hull, the Cancer Council Queensland's tobacco programs team leader, said smokers would be quitting or trying to quit smoking following the introduction of plain packaging.
 
"The packaging confronts smokers with the harmful realities of smoking through new graphic health warnings, to prevent people taking up the habit and encourage smokers to quit," she said.
 
"Plain packaging eliminates tobacco marketing and reinforces public health warnings about the dangers of smoking." Enditem