Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(New York, USA) – – World Lung Foundation (WLF) today issued the following statement on the UK Government’s decision to postpone action on plain packaging.
Peter Baldini, Chief Executive Officer, World Lung Foundation, commented: “It is deeply troubling that the UK Government has withdrawn its plans to pursue standardized cigarette packaging. This measure would remove a major marketing mechanism the tobacco industry uses to attract new customers, especially youth. With no timetable in place for a review of the evidence, the government is essentially shelving this measure indefinitely. We would have expected much more from one of the world’s health leaders.
“There is substantial evidence that suggests traditional cigarette packaging impacts the attitudes of current smokers and plays a role in encouraging youth to initiate smoking. We know that pack colors, design and logos are used to influence consumer opinions, build brand loyalty and attract certain consumer segments. It, therefore, stands to reason that removing branded packaging would subtract these negative outcomes.
“Initial studies from Australia are showing that plain packaging affects attitudes towards tobacco use – including among youth. There are even anecdotal reports that plain packaging has some consumers perceiving that cigarettes taste different, a belief that has the industry scurrying to convince consumers the product is the same. This is not surprising given the known power of branding. So the evidence for change is starting to come through – but the UK government has not said when it will evaluate that evidence.
“This is clearly an example of Big Tobacco influencing health policy. Early this year, the UK Government had taken the retrograde step of inviting the industry to discuss proposed plain packaging legislation, a clear conflict of interest with public health.
Mr Baldini concluded: “If the industry’s goal in this consultation was to delay or stop plain packaging, it appears they have got their wish. Instead of inviting Big Tobacco to the table, the UK should have followed Australia’s lead and defended its right to protect public health. Over a fifth of UK adults still smoke and 45 per cent of 13-15 year olds are exposed to secondhand smoke in the home. Over a fifth of deaths in the UK are due to tobacco and smoking costs the UK economy 9,584 million US dollars every year. We urge the government to address that burden by setting a date to review the case for plain packaging. Putting the brakes on this measure accelerates death, disease and fiscal deficit across the country.”