Plain Packaging For Cigarettes...at Last !

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30926973

We should have got rid of all those pretty, shiny, silver and gold boxes years ago, so its well overdue. ( I know TTT will be cheering this morning ! ) The tobacco lobby has had the upper hand for far too long.

[ummmm]

TTT....honestly, I live with a man who is only ever bothered by what's for dinner and his Kindle :-)

[weecalf]

Ive said it before Ive said it in Brighton as an exsmoker (loved my ciggies I did ) Put on the box these fags cost 20p to make you paid nearly 10 quid are you mad ? Would stop me again I can tell you .

[ladybirder]

I haven't smoked for over 30 years thank goodness but when I did the packet they came in made no difference at all. When I first started as a teenager all I could afford was 5 loose woodbines from the corner shop, i.e. no packet. Don't know if you can still buy fives? It was the taste of my chosen brand that was the attraction although I did quite like the look of those pretty coloured cigarettes, Sobriane or some such name. When you're hooked you're hooked and I don't think the packaging will make any difference to those already smoking because they are addicted but it may stop people from starting the habit, at least I hope so. I gave up because it was an expensive waste of money, my mouth tasted rotten, I knew my hair and clothes smelt of smoke but above all was the health risks and it was even then becoming less culturally acceptable. I think it will continue to decline whatever packaging the cigarettes come in.

[youngmafbog]

Svejk, the tax on tobacco has to cover other costs of smoking, fire engines for fires, sickness payments days of work etc etc so you cannot equate 100% of the tax collected to go to the NHS.

While it is impossible, due to no accurate data, to completely say whether or not costs are covered it is almost certainly not making the Government any money.

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// AOG, that's often for pain relief, not to get high. //

Yeah, of course it is.

[ummmm]

It's true though, AOG.

My dad had a bad accident, in severe pain. I brought him round a joint and he finally had a decent nights sleep.

He was very reluctant to smoke drugs and never smoked them again once he'd recovered. It has it's uses.

ps...I don't use drugs.

[BlackadderV]

Nice to see that Mikey's got another whipping boy. Makes a change from paedophilia and UKIP.

[vulcan42]

When I used to smoke I don't remember anyone who was offered a cigarette saying what brand is it or let me see the packet before I accept. A cigarette is a cigarette is a.. etc. Do you think a alcoholic looks at the brand of the next drink? An Addict doesn't worry about the packaging only what's inside.

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

/// Tobacco, like alcohol, is an inbuilt aspect of our culture, and therefore difficult to demonise because it is so widespread. ///

Difficult to demonise you have got to be joking Andy, can't smoke in pubs, in some open places, hidden behind closed cabinets, and the smoker classed as a second class citizen and almost criminalised etc, etc.

[jackthehat]

If you have never smoked you can't understand the progression of the smoker.
Furtive teenagers either steal from an adults pack (thereby smoking whichever brand is available to them) or club together and buy the cheapest packet they can.
They tend to stick with this brand until an opportunity arises for them to try another. This new brand may be more appealling to them and so they switch. Having discovered their preferred brand, they tend to stick with it for years....until once again they may experience a different one and decide to swap.

I have never, and I mean never, met anyone who either started smoking or swapped brands simply based on the packaging.

[retrocop]

BA. Funny. I have always noticed that observation.!!

[Old_Geezer]

Aye weecalf, until the cost of a cigarette is at least equal to the cost of a pint; few of those already addicted will be deterred by price.

But price may still dissuade the young from starting with any luck. It's a case of making it socially unacceptable in the eyes of the younger generation, rather than a rebel type thing. Every little helps. Including non-glamorous packaging.

[retrocop]

Apart from the graphic photos I assume there is some indication on the "plain packaging" what brand the packet contains ??

[gness]

I have never bought cigarettes for the packaging.....but I will admit to buying some wine when I fell in love with the bottle......

I wonder though, if all wine bottles had to have a picture of a drunken down and out in a shop doorway would I stop drinking wine?

Hmmmm...I would probably crochet some blingy bottle covers......☺

[anneasquith]

oh,, like loo roll holders ?

[gness]

The Crinoline Lady?.....No I prefer a more Goth wine bottle, Anne...x

[ichkeria]

The tobacco companies are dead against it, and presumably they've done some research into the matter.
So that alone makes it highly likely it will have an effect.

[jim360]

The problem with all those people who say packaging didn't make a difference to them is that, while this may appear true at a conscious level, there is a whole lot of evidence that suggests we make decisions a lot faster than that for reasons we ourselves aren't ever fully aware of. A colourful package is far more appealing to the eye than one with shocking images and warnings; and even if it's not the main reason for buying cigarettes, it's certainly a contributing factor.

For those who already buy the things, plain packaging wouldn't make the slightest difference in the world, really, because the addiction would trump most other considerations. For those thinking of starting out? Not so clear-cut, but at least some would be discouraged. But we don't need the numbers of new smokers to fall all that much through this measure for it to be a success.

[ladybirder]

My father used to decant his into a beautiful silver cigarette case so packaging wouldn't have bothered him. Perhaps they'll come back into use.

[retrocop]

I gave up smoking six years ago and consider I am still hooked on the drug.I smoked rolling tobacco kept in a non descript tin. If I was told I had 3 months to live I would be straight up the tobacconist and I wouldn't care what the packaging looked like. The addiction still remains it seems.