Government weighs up logo ban on cigarette packs

by Darren Davidson, Brand Republic 02-Jun-08, 09:10

LONDON - The government is considering banning tobacco companies from using brands and logos on cigarette packaging and limiting retail displays in an attempt to curb smoking by children.

The government has begun a public consultation on tobacco-control measures through the Department of Health.

The government is also considering proposals to prohibit sales of cigarettes in packs of 10, which are more affordable for children, and limit access to vending machines.

Although smoking among young people has decreased from a decade ago, more than 200,000 Britons aged under 16 still take up the habit each year, according to the DoH.

Dawn Primarolo, public health minister, said: "If banning brightly coloured packets, removing cigarettes from display and removing the cheap option of a pack of 10 helps save lives, that is what we should do... But we want to hear everyone's views first.''

The government has claimed that tobacco-related diseases kill 87,000 Britons a year, equal to the population of Durham.

Furthermore, it estimates that annual spending by the National Health Service to treat smoking-linked illnesses runs as high as £1.7bn a year.

Comments

CHRIS ARNOLD - 02/06/2008

I have a simple but effective way to reduce smoking by 20%. A simple idea (and not an ad). If Dawn Primarolo is open to suggestion, contact me.

AK13 - 02/06/2008

Personally I feel that selling only 20 packs will not make any difference. I would just buy more cigarettes. Children these days do have enough money and most definitely they will have at least £5 in their pockets to buy 20 packs. Taking branding away from the packaging is not going to stop people buying cigarettes. Kids think its cool to smoke, its sociable and it wont matter about what brand they are. So in my opinion another pointless thing the government is trying to do...

Keith Allen - 02/06/2008

I don't really care about the banning on adverts and display space but stopping ten packs. That seems like overkill really, i'm pretty sure the tobacco companies have proof that consumers who purchase 10 packs are different to those purchasing 20s. It would be like banning beer from being sold in anything bar a 4 pack as any more would get you crunk

Alison Donnelly - 02/06/2008

The point is that the effect of banning 10 packs effectively means that to buy cigarettes you've got to pay double the price, which should be deterrent at least for social smokers - if not for some young people who don't have a lot of money to spend. However it's interesting to note that the 10 pack ban was introduced in Ireland last year and early research (admittedly some of it by cigarette brands themselves) show that smoking levels among moderate smokers has increased since ban with people buying 20 packs anyway and smoking more. Unless cigarettes are taxed significantly more heavily it's hard to see how it can make the impact desired.

Gordon Macmillan - 02/06/2008

I'm convinced that tax is the only answer. The price of cigarettes should be doubled. The tax man wins and it isn't a election vote loser. Banning packs of ten clearly hasn't worked. Kids need to be priced out of the market. This will force more to give up or cut down. I think it will be generally a popular move although specifically smokers are going to be pissed off, but that's price they will have to pay social smokers included. All additional tax raised could be given to the NHS, which has to deal with the end results of smoking related illnesses.