| The British Government is reported to be deliberating a | | | | but we want to hear everyone's views first." |
| total ban on displaying brand names and placing of | | | | Research conducted by the UK Department of Health |
| logos on packets of cigarettes, as a portion of their | | | | has shown that children and more immature individuals |
| proposition to dramatically reduce the number of | | | | are more responsive to the advertising campaigns of |
| people who smoke tobacco products across the | | | | the tobacco manufacturing companies than grownups, |
| United Kingdom. | | | | and it is hoped that these most recent propositions will |
| Suggested restraints being considered by the Health | | | | assist to dissuade adolescents from smoking |
| Department in the UK would incorporate cigarettes | | | | Simon Clark, the director of anti smoking pressure |
| being retailed only in plain, unbranded packaging, minimal | | | | group "FOREST" is opposed to these most recent |
| pack sizes of 20 (in an endeavour to forestall younger | | | | proposals from the government, foreseeing that the |
| people who possibly have only enough money to | | | | suggested steps may possibly only make smoking |
| purchase packets of ten cigarettes at a time), together | | | | seem to represent a "more attractive habit" instead of |
| with a ban on the media advertisements of cigarette | | | | putting them off. He carried on to state "Banning point |
| rolling papers. | | | | of sale display will make smoking even more attractive |
| The UK Department of Health have released a | | | | to teenagers. Worse, it will drive many smokers |
| consultation document titled "The Future of Tobacco | | | | towards cheaper counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes." |
| Control" as part of an attempt to bring down smoking | | | | "Yet again freedom of choice and personal |
| numbers in adults together with trying to prevent | | | | responsibility are being sacrificed by politicians who |
| adolescents from starting the smoking habit. | | | | think they know best. What next? Are they going to |
| Government figures show that nearly 250,000 under | | | | ban the display of alcohol and confectionery?" he |
| adolescents adopt the smoking habit every year in the | | | | added. |
| United Kingdom and they're three times more probable | | | | Mr Clark said: "The best way to tackle youth smoking |
| to suffer a premature death from cancer than an | | | | is through education and proper enforcement of the |
| individual who begins smoking in their mid twenties | | | | legal age limit" |
| Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo has been | | | | The anti smoking pressure group Action on Smoking |
| quoted as saying "Protecting children from smoking is | | | | and Health (ASH) welcome the latest government |
| a Government priority and taking away temptation is | | | | propositions... Ash director Deborah Arnott stated: |
| one way to do this" | | | | "Smoking is a habit which is passed down from |
| "If banning brightly-colored packets, removing cigarettes | | | | generation to generation and this pattern can only be |
| from display and removing the cheap option of a pack | | | | broken by fresh thinking and a comprehensive |
| of 10 helps save lives, then that is what we should do, | | | | cross-government strategy. |