UK: Mixed Reaction over PM''s Move on Plain Packaging for Tobacco

Source from:  Lancashire Evening Post 07/16/2013

The Prime Minister's decision to withdraw a discussion over plain packaging for tobacco from the Queen's speech has been met with a mixed reaction from agencies involved in a campaign against the illicit tobacco trade.

The Evening Post's Don't Let Them Make a Packet campaign aims to raise awareness of the impact of the bootleg cigarette trade on communities and retailers in the county.

The tobacco industry believes proposals to move to plain packaged products would fuel the black market by making it easier for counterfeiters to copy products, but others believed it was a positive step that would deter young people from taking up the habit.

It is believed David Cameron has scrapped plans to force all cigarettes to be sold in plain packs, which health ministers have been consulting on for around 12 months.

Mr Cameron has ordered the proposed law to be pulled from Wednesday's Queen's Speech.

Iain Watkins, of Imperial Tobacco, which is supporting the LEP's campaign, said: "We have always maintained there is no evidence to support the government's objective with plain packaging and it would only further increase the illicit trade."

It came after a Lancaster University student was among more than 50 young people who staged a protest outside British American Tobacco's AGM last week.

Adan Loughlin attended an event organised by anti smoking charities that are backing standardised packs for tobacco products.

The 22-year-old said: "I hate the way the tobacco industry influences – and sometimes misleads – people about its products. Getting rid of branding on packs makes the health warnings more prominent and I think this helps people to think more about what they're doing to their body."

Around 200,000 children and young people in England start smoking each year, and more than two thirds of the UK's existing 10 million smokers started before they turned 18.

The LEP investigation has revealed how sellers of bootleg cigarettes sell illicit products for pocket money prices and without age checks, undermining health agencies' efforts to help people to quit and stop youngsters taking up the habit in the first place.

The campaign has scored significant success after 
Trading Standards chiefs, who are tackling the trade, revealed a THIRD more people came forward with information whilst the campaign has been running.

Crimestoppers bosses said they had seen a massive increase in intelligence regarding Lancashire's illicit trade. Enditem