Tobacco petition

Published on 13/07/2012 00:00

I wonder how many of your readers agree it’s right that a highly addictive product like tobacco is sold in packaging 
designed to entice and beguile.

Or that a legal product – which, uniquely, eventually kills half the people who use it as intended – is allowed to be wrapped up to make it appear like a lipstick case, making it 
appealing to young people.

Or that an industry is allowed to use methods such as this in a nefarious attempt to recruit the 13,000 people in Scotland each year it needs to replace those who die as a result of smoking.

British Heart Foundation Scotland thinks it’s all wrong. Those who agree don’t have long to take what could be a unique opportunity to express those views and make a real difference to our children’s health. The UK government’s consultation on plain packaging for tobacco products closes on 10 August.

I urge your readers to make their views count by signing our petition at www.bhf.org.uk/plainpackaging.

Ben McKendrick

British Heart Foundation Scotland

Ocean Drive

Edinburgh