‘No excuse’ over delay on tobacco packaging

HEALTH campaigners say that ministers have “no excuse” to delay plans to sell cigarettes in plain packs, after a new study found that tobacco sold in standardised packaging is “less appealing” and makes smokers “prioritise quitting”.

The Scottish Government is committed to launching plain packaging in Scotland. Picture: Toby Williams

• Study shows 70% of smokers find plain packet cigarettes ‘less appealing’

• Scottish Government committed to introducing plain packs; Westminster has delayed the move

Earlier this month the Westminster government announced plans to go ahead with plain packaging in England would be postponed until ministers had a chance to assess the impact of a similar scheme in Australia.

The research published yesterday, examining the early impact of the scheme in Australia, found smokers were “less satisfied” when their tobacco came in the plain packets and were more likely to consider giving up.

The authors of the study, published in the online journal BMJ Open, found that, compared with branded-pack smokers, people using plain packs were 66 per cent more likely to think their cigarettes were poorer quality than a year ago and 70 per cent more likely to say they found them less satisfying.

They were also 81 per cent more likely to have thought about quitting at least once a day during the previous week.

“Overall, the introductory effects we observed are consistent with the broad objectives of the plain packaging legislation,” the authors said.

“We await further research to examine more durable effects on smokers and any effects on youth.”

The Scottish Government is pushing ahead with the plans north of the Border, announcing this month that they remain committed to plans to introduce plain packaging, but UK government ministers faced fury from health campaigners earlier this month after announcing the plans would be put on ice.

Downing Street was forced to deny that the Tories’ elections strategist Lynton Crosby was responsible for the delay to plain packaging. Mr Crosby’s links with alcohol and tobacco firms have been called into question by some MPs.

Mr Crosby, who was brought in last year after masterminding Boris Johnson’s re-election as London mayor, has reportedly advised David Cameron to “get the barnacles off the boat” and concentrate on the core concerns of voters, such as the economy.

The consultation on plain packs was launched in April last year, but ministers are yet to make a decision on the move.

Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: “This is yet more evidence for the UK government that standardised cigarette packs work in discouraging smoking.

“Westminster has absolutely no excuse for delaying legislation to introduce standardised packaging.”

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of health charity Ash, said: “Cameron’s line that he wants to wait for the evidence is just a fudge so he can kick this into the long grass.”

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “In light of the differing views, we have decided to wait until the emerging impact of the decision in Australia can be measured, and then we will make a decision.”