Government puts Ciggy profit before childrens health

[Gary L]

Labour has accused David Cameron of caving in to the tobacco industry after plans to introduce plain cigarette packaging in England are put on hold.
Ministers have said a decision has been delayed so that more time can be spent examining how similar plans have worked in Australia.

Downing Street is said to be worried about the impact on jobs.

But Labour wants an explanation about the "broken promise" and the input of Tory election strategist Lynton Crosby.
And health campaigners said the government had chosen tobacco profits over health.

(the Tobacco Manufacturers Association said the government should look at alternative measures, such as tackling the black-market trade)

LOL

Worried about the impact on jobs. LOL yeh right.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23281804

[nomadking]

Why would plain packaging make any difference?

Bit rich that Labour are complaining when they were more than happy to give an exemption for tobacco sponsorship in a certain sport in return for a small(£1million) donation.

[Mick Fisher]

There's an election coming, smoker's and drinker's votes are more importent to the Tories than peoples health.

In other news I see Osbourne is promising no tax rises if the Tories are re-elected.

Give the millionaire, part time Tory toffs a kick up the ass by voting UKIP or even the Monster Raving Loony Party if it's still around.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by nomadking

Why would plain packaging make any difference?

Bit rich that Labour are complaining when they were more than happy to give an exemption for tobacco sponsorship in a certain sport in return for a small(£1million) donation.

Shhhhhhh!!.... Don't remind everyone.

Labour did eventually start the process of making the labels bigger on the boxes and ban smoking in pubs but the question isn't about Labour or even the Tobacco companies, it's if this was related to the donations to Crosby.

Besides you can't really have a go at Labour if you're willing to give the Tories a pass on it. It's either bad in both cases or it's not.

[Dash: CF noob]

The impact of electronic cigarettes is hitting the coffers by millions of pounds per day, the government are soiling their pants.

[Taf]

Originally Posted by Dash: CF noob

The impact of electronic cigarettes is hitting the coffers by millions of pounds per day, the government are soiling their pants.

Which is possibly why they are desperate to get them classed as a medical aid accross Europe, with pharma (and their loyal supporters) getting richer when they get hiked in price above tobacco.

Hmmm.. on another note, if they go for plain packaging, how will they differentiate between "blue" (lower tar) and "red" (higher tar) within the same brand? They have already said that you can't call the "blue" ones "Low Tar".

[Doug P]

Originally Posted by nomadking

Why would plain packaging make any difference?

Bit rich that Labour are complaining when they were more than happy to give an exemption for tobacco sponsorship in a certain sport in return for a small(£1million) donation.

Exactly. This plain packaging is presented as some sort of instant method of stopping smoking. It isn't.

[Graham M]

Originally Posted by Taf

Which is possibly why they are desperate to get them classed as a medical aid accross Europe, with pharma (and their loyal supporters) getting richer when they get hiked in price above tobacco.

Hmmm.. on another note, if they go for plain packaging, how will they differentiate between "blue" (lower tar) and "red" (higher tar) within the same brand? They have already said that you can't call the "blue" ones "Low Tar".

It was all much easier before they banned them from calling them "Lights"

[spreadsheet]

a curious aspect of all this is that if they do encourage everyone to have more healthy lifestyles then by the very nature of that people will live longer. With this in mind (and considering the price people in care homes pay eg >850/week is far from uncommon) surely the economics do not gel?

I think back to when i started smoking and have to say the package made zero difference to me and remained that way throughout my time as a tobacco smoker. It looks good it sounds good and will make zero difference to youth smoking and as long as this attitude continues smoking will continue to be a problem. All those who oppose it and campaign to rid the world of it need to be more realistic and accept that it is too late to stop it our best bet is to alter the method and take the profit away from the tobacco companys.

I never thought electronic's would work for me but having been on them for nearly a year now they do work and instead of trying to stop a core group that has remained constant perhaps it is time to look to mitigating the damage by encouraging another way.

[Chad]

Up here in Scotland the SNP Government passed legislation meaning big stores like Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s have to hide cigarette displays from the buying public.

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The names of each cigarette brand and their price are written in incredibly small text on the front of each cabinet. Pretty much only the cashier knows what cigarettes they sell and how much for.

All shops selling tobacco must sign up to the new Scottish Tobacco Retailers Register by 2015. It's not going to be long until there is a zero tolerance to cigarettes being on display anywhere. Cigarette vending machines have also been banned.

The SNP hope that any glamour attached to each brands packaging will become defunct. Also by having cigarettes hidden away it's hoped through time the next generation of potential smokers will see a stigma attached to asking for products that are that bad they need to be hidden away.

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by Chad

Up here in Scotland the SNP Government passed legislation meaning big stores like Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s have to hide cigarette displays from the buying public.



The names of each cigarette brand and their price are written in incredibly small text on the front of each cabinet. Pretty much only the cashier knows what cigarettes they sell and how much for.

All shops selling tobacco must sign up to the new Scottish Tobacco Retailers Register by 2015. It's not going to be long until there is a zero tolerance to cigarettes being on display anywhere. Cigarette vending machines have also been banned.

The SNP hope that any glamour attached to each brands packaging will become defunct. Also by having cigarettes hidden away it's hoped through time the next generation of potential smokers will see a stigma attached to asking for products that are that bad they need to be hidden away.

Same down south, all my supermarkets are behind closed doors.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

Same down south, all my supermarkets are behind closed doors.

I didn't know that. I thought it had just been rolled out up here in Scotland.

---------- Post added at 22:09 ---------- Previous post was at 22:01 ----------

I suppose this could have interesting long term implications. Tobacco companies aren't allowed to advertise. Soon cigarette packets will not be allowed to be displayed in shops and there is the potential for cigarettes to come in non-branded boxes.

Once the current generation of smokers die off it'll be interesting to see what happens over the next 10 to 20 years. With no concept of brand what will the kids of today smoke when they are old enough?

Could we be building up to just 1 brand of cigarette sold by the Government? A "healthier" cigarette with lower Tar and chemicals than those on the market just now?

[PISCES]

It doesn't matter which Government is running this country, it has always been the same, and it will continue to be same for years to come