Cancer charity accuses tobacco companies of targeting youngsters

Tobacco companies have targeted children by using “colourful and slick” cigarette packaging, a charity has alleged.

Video footage released by Cancer Research UK shows children as young as six years old discussing what attracts them to cigarette packets, with one explaining: “It makes you feel like you’re in a wonderland of happiness.”

A new report by the charity claims tobacco companies have identified young people and women as target groups for packaging design purposes.

Other reactions by the group of six to 11-year-old children, filmed to launch the charity’s “The Answer is Plain” campaign, were: “The pictures actually look quite nice. Ice cubes and mint”; “It reminds me of a Ferrari.”

The charity said the children were shown cereal boxes and asked for their responses before being shown cigarette boxes and again asked for their “unprompted and unscripted” thoughts.

It has launched a petition calling for all branding on tobacco packaging to be removed.