Plain cigarette boxes under review

The UK government is set to announce fresh review on cigarette packaging amid calls to discourage young smokers.

12:44 28 November 2013

In July, the issue on uniformed cigarette packaging was raised in an attempt to discourage young smokers. Back then, Prime Minister David Cameron said that further evidence is needed to show if it will be effective. Today, the UK government is expected to announce fresh review on this matter and it would say that it has an open-mind about that to do. A spokeswoman said all options would be considered, which include using graphic images of smoking-related diseases and using uniformed colour on all cigarette boxes.

However, Labour seems not to be impressed and said that action is necessary and not another review.

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham believes that this fresh review is just a delaying tactic. He said: "If the government was serious it would be taking action now to cut the harm from tobacco to children.”

"I don't believe this is a serious move. It's just a tactic to avoid humiliation in the House of Lords."

However, Public Health Minister Jane Ellison explained the importance of this move. She said:

 

"Asking an independent body to take a look and survey the evidence for us is a sensible next step. We are going to take the opportunity to put regulations in place which will enable us to act quickly."