No Iffs or Butts: it’s time to stop cigarettes being sold in colourful packets

The call for cigarette packets to be sold in plain packaging with large health warnings has provoked controversy. Here Felicity Waters of Ash Wales argues that tobacco should look as dangerous as it is.

Should packs containing a product that will kill half of all its long term users look like perfume, a lipstick container or a box of lego?

Since the ban on tobacco advertising was introduced in 2002 and a ban on displays of tobacco at the point of sale was passed in England, and last week in Wales, the packaging of cigarettes has become the main advertising tool of the tobacco industry – its silent salesman.

As a result, cigarette packs now come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and designs. Many of these packs are deliberately fashionable, colourful and attractive to young smokers especially slim-line packs which fit nicely into a handbag.

Read the full article at www.walesonline.co.uk

To read about the work ASH Wales has been doing go to our Plain Packs Roadshow page.