This Week's Issue: Will tobacco packaging rules deter people from smoking?
SUPERMARKETS in Mole Valley and across the UK have been banned from displaying tobacco products, and cigarette companies are being forced to use plain packaging as part of the Government's drive to cut smoking. But will the measures work, or will people keep smoking regardless?
MANY of the Advertiser's readers believe rules about packaging and shop displays will not deter people from smoking.
Asked if plain packaging would have any effect, Gordon Luff said: "If a picture of a decaying internal organ doesn't, then definitely not."
Laura Catchpole agreed, saying: "They're not deterred by freezing cold or driving rain when they have to smoke outside, I don't think they even look at the packaging."
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Chris O'Connor added: "No! People will smoke regardless of packaging. Keep labelling the same but give more education on dangers."
But Ian Jones believed the change might have some impact. "I think it will deter some but not all," he said. "With any vice there's an element drawn into it by the branding and image."
But the Deborah Hutton Campaign, a smoking prevention charity, contacted the Advertiser to voice support for the Government's new rules.
Speaking about the plain packaging, a spokesman said: "It will help stop young people and impulse purchasers."
Comments
by Maria20101
Thursday, June 21 2012, 4:38PM
“If the packaging isn't important in attracting new smokers, why all the fuss?
I'd suggest that the amount of effort that the tobacco companies, their front groups and lobby organisations are putting into rubbishing this is an indication that they think it will significantly reduce the numbers of children starting to smoke.
Children don't just see cigarette packs in shops, they see parents, siblings and other people with them.
Only supermarkets have shutters over their displays, the packs are still visibly on display in small shops. It might be illegal to sell to children but that doesn't stop the displays being visible and attractive to children as they grow up.”
by suffolkpunch
Thursday, June 21 2012, 2:25PM
“Plain packaging and hiding tobacco products behind shutters is meant to stop children taking up smoking. It is illegal for shops to sell to anybody under 18 and children get their first cigarettes from their friend and families and not from shops.”