Review recommends plain cigarette packs

“The government has announced its support for the introduction of standardised cigarette packets, following a review,” BBC News reports. The review concludes that plain packaging would have a positive impact on public health.   Who produced the review? The review was commissioned by Jane Ellison MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, into whether the introduction of standardised cigarette packets would lead to a benefit in public health – specifically, in reducing the number of children who smoke. The review was produced by Sir Cyril Chantler, who served as a Consultant Paediatrician at Guy's Hospital and is now an Honorary Fellow for University College London (and associated bodies).   What is meant by standardised packaging? “Standardised packaging” means putting tobacco products in drab, purposefully unattractive packaging, devoid of branding (other than name) or promotional information. In Australia, which introduced standardised packaging in 2012, packs often contains stark health warnings and graphic images, such as a limb affected by gangrene (which can occur due to smoking-related peripheral arterial disease).   What are the arguments for standardised packaging? Arguments for standardised packaging include claims it will: discourage people, particularly children, from taking up smoking (particular emphasis is placed on this) encourage current smokers to give up discourage people who have given up from relapsing In...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Cancer QA articles Source Type: news