A report in an edition of the Daily Mail in the UK on tobacco plain packaging is of great interest.

Jeff Rogut

“Plans for plain-pack cigarettes and ban on multi-buy alcohol deals axed by ministers”
· Ministers have spent a year considering introducing plain packaging
· But they have decided there is not enough evidence it will put off smokers
· The Government has also shelved plans to ban multi-buy drinks deals”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2361293/Plans-plain-pack-cigarettes-ban-multi-buy-alcohol-deals-axed-ministers.html

So despite the various approaches to the Australian government about the potential consequences as well as unintended consequences of introducing plain packaging for tobacco products, the then health minister rammed the changes through in a very tight timeframe with little consideration of the effectiveness of the changes.

The UK government as reported in ‘The Daily Mail’ has taken a far more cautious approach and in the absence of any evidence that plain packaging of tobacco would make any impact have decided that “there is not enough evidence it would have a significant impact.”

Retailers and customers are well aware of the disruption that this change has caused in Australia, and sales have not declined in the past 6 months since the introduction. There has however been a shift to cheaper products with customers buying more of these more frequently.

It is unfortunate that our government did not heed the representations made by bodies such as AACS and adopt a more cautious approach given the distinct lack of evidence as well as not relying on flawed research presented to them that stated that plain packaging would in fact be more efficient for retailers.

We will pursue our efforts to present rational arguments to governments of all persuasions when we believe that what they propose will not meet their objectives and do more harm than good. Hopefully there will be a time when they actually listen to those at the coalface rather than to some academics who thrive in a theoretical universe.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE CONSULTATION ON STANDARDISED PACKAGING OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS