ASI plain wrong

It IS hardly surprising that a free market think tank [the Adam Smith Institute] has produced a report arguing against regulation (your report, 20 February).

What we should be surprised by is its claim that there is no evidence that putting tobacco products into plain packaging will deter young people from taking up smoking.

The exact opposite is true, with a large, and growing, body of evidence suggesting that plain packaging would be effective. In a range of different studies, researchers have consistently found that plain packaging makes tobacco products less appealing to both children and adults.

Interestingly, while tobacco industry lobbyists claim that plain packaging will make no difference, they also claim exactly the opposite, that plain packaging will ruin local retailers. There are no grounds to believe either position.

The deterrent effect of plain packaging means that tobacco sales should decline gradually, but not immediately, with the main effect being to reduce the number of young people becoming new smokers.

Chris Snowdon is entitled to his opinions about plain packaging. But he should not misrepresent the facts.

Sheila Duffy

ASH Scotland

Frederick Street

Edinburgh