Do you agree with plain cigarette packaging?

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

new EU meddling could see the return of the smoker

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36349023

That new rule is all about ensuring a tax stream for when fags get too expensive. The tax they get from fags will be a great loss when its gone so what better than to tax E cigs now

Originally Posted by nomadking

The drop in smoking started in the 1970s. Long before any specific measures were introduced.

1965 Cigarette advertising was banned in TV in 1965
1969 the Radio Times implemented its own ban on cigarette advertising
1971 Publication of the second ROyal College of Physicians report, "Smoking and Health Now"; this report also received widespread publicity and caused a permanent drop of 5% in cigarette consumption
1971 Health warnings were put on cigarette packets
1971 London Transport increased the proportion of carriages in underground trains reserved for non-smokers from 50% to 75%, and banned smoking on single-deck buses
1972 132 MPs voted in favour of a ban on cigarette advertising, 73 against. In an extension of the existing voluntary agreement, the industry agreed to: include "health hints" on cigarette packs (e.g. "if you do smoke, leave a long stub); cover up specific brand advertisements at televised sporting events; ensure that all brand ads at sports events carried a health warning; ensure that cinema cigarette advertisements, and those sent through the post, carried a reference to the health warning
1974 The second edition of the tar tables was published, dividing cigarettes into high, middle-to-high, middle, low-to-middle and low tar categories
1975 Following discussions with the industry and the department of Health, the ASA agreed to devise a new, stricter code governing cigarette advertising
1976 The HEC launched an anti-smoking campaign aimed at young people
1976 The BBC programme Nationwide launched a widespread campaign to "Stop smoking with Nationwide" which continued for several months
1977 The HEC launched a TV campaign focusing on the rights of non-smokers and smoking by women
1978 The Independent Broadcasting Authority publishes a Code of Advertising Standards which regulates all commercial TV and radio broadcasting. Cigarettes and cigarette tobacco are "unacceptable products" not to be advertised on commercial radio

Source: http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_741.pdf

---------- Post added at 15:35 ---------- Previous post was at 15:29 ----------

Originally Posted by Taf

Free (or much cheaper) ciggies to the military during, and after WW2, meant a large rise in the percentage of smokers. Those hooked on nicotine during that period are dying out, so of course the percentages these days are dropping.

Actually, in 1947, a massive (43%) increase in cigarette tax results led to a 14% drop in cigarette consumption among British men.

Also, over 60s have a lower percentage of smokers than other age groups.

http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PU...g-2015-rep.pdf page 12

[Hom3r]

Only in the UK are cigarettes at the front of the store, and the pharmacy at the back.

I think tobacco smoking is in terminal decline in the West and the future of tobacco is in Africa and Asia that's certainly where the major tobacco company's see their future profits. Will there be a hardcore left in the West yes of course there will my father is one of them. Even after seeing how successful e-cigarettes were for me and my mother (yes I got her to make the switch) he will not even try one or think about quitting full stop. As that group dies so the smoking figures will hit single figure percentages and in twenty years you'll be more likely to see classic cars then a public smoker.

I'm divided on the subject as while I understand the damage tobacco does and the negative affect it has on society I find many of the things done to smoker's to be distasteful such as bans and restrictions. Tobacco is a legal product and we already limit sale to adults I'd have preferred the numerous governments to have the courage of their supposed conviction and banned it altogether.

Seems a bit barmy.
I seriously doubt anyone started smoking because of the branding on the packet.

Originally Posted by 007stuart

Time to the same with beers wines & spirits

I assume you are joking (or have completely lost your mind).

[Ignitionnet]

Answering the original post I'm fine with plain cigarette packaging.

I'd quite like to see cannabis legalised for recreational use, though. Bit of a farce that it's legal in some US states but here a bunch of politicians still have a rod up their arse over it, to the point where we no longer ban things, we explicitly allow them and assume everything else is banned.

[Scary]

personally i don't see the point in making them plain, i do smoke and it wouldn't stop me.

[mrmistoffelees]

Just ordered myself a rather natty silver & black leather cigarette case

who says smoking isn't cool ?

I suspect the packaging is more about being able to sniff out imported/smuggled cigarettes rather than stopping people from smoking.

Lets face it, if you're addicted to a drug which is apparently more addictive than heroin, is a picture of some diseased lungs really going to think 'actually, no, time to stop'

Time to start raising the duty massively on alcohol also.... not as if you see smokers being rushed in on a Fri/Sat night to A&E because they've smoked so many cigarettes that they've fallen asleep and then choked on their own vomit

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

I suspect the packaging is more about being able to sniff out imported/smuggled cigarettes rather than stopping people from smoking.

Actually it's to make them less appealing to kids ,your right it probably won't make many people stop but it will probably stop a few starting especially when you include the other measures .

[Taf]

How can a packet's design appeal to kids? I've not seen a single one with Spongebob, Barbie, Transformers et al on it.

Anyway they are hidden away in shops now out of everyone's gaze.

Originally Posted by Taf

How can a packet's design appeal to kids? I've not seen a single one with Spongebob, Barbie, Transformers et al on it.

Anyway they are hidden away in shops now out of everyone's gaze.

A plain package with a picture of a pair of rotting lungs or cancer ridden gob is going to be far less appealing than a bright shiny packet

[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by martyh

A plain package with a picture of a pair of rotting lungs or cancer ridden gob is going to be far less appealing than a bright shiny packet

They have these images on packaging already though.. .not covering as much of the packet however

[Gavin78]

I don't see what harm it can do, the only people I see getting their backs up on this are the smokers in denial of what the pictures are telling them.

You'll hear so many smokers tell others "don't smoke it's bad for you I wish I never started" but then are quick to defend there actions when questioned.

I still see parents flouting the law with regards to smoking in the car with kids in I think it's disgusting

[Stephen]

I don't see how changing to plain packaging will affect people buying them though as all shops have to have cigs completely covered up now. well in Scotland anyway, don't know about the rest of the UK.

Plain packets are stupid all the decades I smoked I never cared about the packaging not once did I purchase by telling the checkout operator "I'll have 20 of the one with red stripes vertically on the packet". This is all about those who want smoking gone thinking they have achieved something but in practical terms I doubt it will affect a single smoker. Images are great except that people know smoker's and rarely see the cancer mouth in life I grew up in a family of smoker's a few of them died from smoking related illness and never had any overt signs.