ASH Wales has expressed deep disappointment that the UK Government has decided not to pursue standard packaging for tobacco in its legislative programme.
Standard packaging, which has already been introduced in Australia, makes cigarettes look less attractive, increases the effectiveness of health warnings and removes the positive association of glossy marketing with a deadly product.
Responding to the Queen’s Speech on May 8th, Chief Executive of ASH Wales Elen de Lacy, said:
“The UK Government has lost a vital opportunity to end tobacco marketing aimed at our young people.
“There is plenty of evidence that glossy packaging has an influence on children and if the tobacco companies don’t think so, why do they spend millions of pounds on this sort of marketing every year.“Standard packs have been successfully introduced in Australia and will be soon in New Zealand and Ireland. It is a sad indictment that the UK Government has decided to side with the tobacco industry rather than future generations of children.”
For more information about the case for standard packs click here.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/04/cigarette-lobby-plain-packs
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lynton-crosby-david-cameron-aides-1873333
By ASH Wales
