UK: Plain Cigarette Packet Plan Dropped Because of Legal Threat

Source from:  Mirror.co.uk 05/08/2013

David Cameron's plan to put cigarettes in plain packets went up in smoke because of threats of a £5BILLION compensation claim, reports the Sunday People .

The tobacco industry told the PM they would sue him for "violation of rights to free speech".

Lawyers for cig giants Philip Morris – makers of Marlboro – claimed the move was illegal under both UK and EU law.

They added: "Plain packaging would constitute a deprivation of trade mark owners' property rights."

Mr Cameron also dropped plans for a 45p minimum unit price for alcohol because it would have involved a lengthy battle through Europe's courts.

He launched last week's Queen's Speech for the new Parliamentary session without either proposal – angering anti-smoking and anti-boozing campaigners.

Dr Harpal Kumar of Cancer Research UK said: "We are extremely disappointed. There's strong evidence that removing glitzy designs from cigarette packets makes them less attractive to children." Enditem