Cancer Research is asking the British Government to continue their stance over plans to introduce plain cigarette packaging to put off young smokers. Figures reveal that up 570 young people take up smoking every day in the UK, and something needs to be done to dissuade this startling figure.
Reports have suggested that David Cameron may be scrapping the plan to enforce a new legislation to force tobacco manufacturers to sell their products in plain packs, and lose the ‘glitz’. The Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association are up in arms at the possible change to the plans, claiming that the Government will have ‘failed’ the next generation of young Britons.
Cancer Research UK’s tobacco policy lead, Alison Cox, said –
The government has a responsibility to safeguard children’s health by curbing the tobacco industry’s promotion of a lethal addiction. And it must ignore the industry’s misleading multi-million pound campaign to protect profits. Smoking causes 100,000 deaths a year, 60,000 of them from cancer. There is clear evidence that introducing standardised plain packs will reduce the appeal of cigarettes and give children one less reason to take up smoking.
This idea has been bandied around since last April, with the Government planning to follow Australia’s lead and introduce standardised packaging for all tobacco products. They became the first country in the world to introduce this scheme, with hopefully others about to follow suit. All products should be sold in the same colour packet, with just the brand and health warnings on show.
Let’s hope the government stick to their guns and get serious about battle smoking and cancer. With nearly 600 young people starting smoking every day, now is the time to get real in the battle to stop this killer disease.
If you would like to help raise funds to aid Cancer Research’s work, why not order something from their Gift Shop? There’s loads of interesting and innovative products to choose from, and all the profits go to helping the fight against cancer.
