David Cameron 'U-Turn' Over Cigarette Packaging

[Jazzy]

David Cameron is set to be accused of a major U-turn over the introduction of plain packaging of cigarettes.

The Government is poised to announce it is pressing ahead with the measure aimed at making smoking less attractive to youngsters.

Mr Cameron's decision to shelve the measure last July caused an outcry after it emerged his election strategist Lynton Crosby, now employed full time by the Conservatives, is a partner of Crosby Textor, which worked with Philip Morris Ltd as it lobbied the UK government against plain packaging.

That prompted the accusation from Ed Miliband in the Commons: "He is the Prime Minister for Benson and Hedge funds, and he knows it.

"Can he not see that there is a devastating conflict of interest between having a key adviser raking it in from big tobacco and then advising him not to go ahead with plain packaging?"

Campaigners for plain packaging feared that a pause on consultation in July had effectively ruled out any prospect of its introduction until after the next election, while lobbyists for the tobacco industry were confident of having defeated the proposal.

Source

Do you think plain packaging will make smoking less attractive to youngsters? Why / Why not?

 

[Evil Eye]

I sincerely hope people don't start smoking because the package looks nice.

 

[Nebulous]

I sincerely hope people don't start smoking because the package looks nice.

Kids do! Kids are attracted to fancy imagery. Adults don't really care that much. They like something because of what it does.

 

[Evil Eye]

Kids do! Kids are attracted to fancy imagery. Adults don't really care that much. They like something because of what it does.

But, surely, kids young enough to be attracted to pretty packaging aren't actually allowed to buy smokes?

 

[Jazzy]

Kids do! Kids are attracted to fancy imagery. Adults don't really care that much. They like something because of what it does.

But, surely, kids young enough to be attracted to pretty packaging aren't actually allowed to buy smokes?

They aren't allowed to buy them so they'll get someone older to get them a pack.

 

[Evil Eye]

They aren't allowed to buy them so they'll get someone older to get them a pack.

Sure, but I doubt the package really makes people want to start smoking.

 

[Nebulous]

Also a lot of kids have smoking parents. So with a colorful attractive package, kids might be more inclined to pay attention to their parents habit and sneak a few smokes for themselves from time to time.