Update UK plain packaging ban dropped

[nicwing]

http://inluminocomms.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/a-sad-day-in-sydney.html

I've just seen this post from Australia and it's a sad day. It is also a reminder of why we all need to do everything in our power to fight the Plain Packaging initiative!

[Deano]

I just don't see the point of it, at all. I'm trying to take an unbiased view, but I'm not a cigarette smoker, and I still don't see how it's going to change much of anything.

If anything, it's going to make smoking even more 'taboo' and attract more and more youngsters.

However, that's my uneducated view and the 'studies' don't seem to back this: http://inluminocomms.blogspot.com.au...or-cigars.html

Anyhow, as pointed out in the blog, cigar smoking only amounts to 0.011% of total tobacco consumption in Australia, so I don't see how it should be tarred with the same brush.

[SmokeyDave]

I had first hand experience of this in Sydney airport duty free, it was only week after the new legislation came into force.

The tobacco area was behind a desk, manned by a single staff member, a plain black & white printed A4 piece of paper listed the cigar stock and prices, just names and price, no description or dates etc. You then had to ask to see the stock, which the staff member proceeded to retrieve from cupboards with solid black doors.

Very depressing.

[daniel2001]

Plain Packaging initiative!

I would hardly go so far as to call it an Initiative! Complete waste of time more like.

This is simply a political football. A small issue that will make no appreciable difference in the real world that the media focuses on to the detriment of good journalism and societies collective IQ.

I don't care what any study says (one way or the other), it won't make a measurable difference to the nations health in regards cigar and pipe smokers.

Load of rubbish.

[Burner]

The government seldom lets good sense get in the way of a cheap headline. The move to plain packaging will have a profound impact. Packaging plays a big part in establishing authenticity and confidence in the product, The only way round it would be to cover the existing packaging in a plain cover. I can’t see the government being sensible enough to do this and generic boxes will be a fakers dream. If things do go that way I wouldn't buy cigars in the UK ever again.

[nicwing]

. If things do go that way I wouldn't buy cigars in the UK ever again.

Australia (plain packaging) Canada (Cigars in public sight) are the first places that are attacked and this trend will spread all over the world if we don't turn it back then it won't be possible to guarantee the authenticity of Cuban cigars anywhere in the world.

[nicwing]

Tobacco plain packaging ban abandoned in the UK

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d44ff478-b2ff-11e2-b5a5-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2SGcH8vFK

Great news, I thought I had heard this on the news yesterday but I have been away and have only just managed to check on line.

Great news and I'm sure all of those who took the time to sign the petition all played their part.

[sheppsea]

If plain packaging had been introduced in the UK would the packaging have been the same as the monstrosities in Australia?

I can not see how having such disturbing images in regular public sight could possibly be for the public good, it does nothing to improve public health and just scare any young child who sees it; it is also where these initiatives stop being about educating and is more about shocking, it is trying to force people to stop smoking when they have the legal right to do so.

[nicwing]

That was the proposal, it's a great victory, for now...

[cj121]

A modicum of 'commons' sense prevails, but like you say Nic...for now.

[dickylala]

It is good news for now........opinion seems to be that this will rear its ugly head again in the future though.

[daniel2001]

Good.

Unfortunately, there are too many do-gooders around that will try and get this back into Parliament using pseudo science and FUD. If labour gets in next time round, is give it ten minutes before they reintroduce plain packaging.

[Deano]

Very good news, couldn't do without the boxes and art!

[tippexx]

Good.

Unfortunately, there are too many do-gooders around that will try and get this back into Parliament using pseudo science and FUD. If labour gets in next time round, is give it ten minutes before they reintroduce plain packaging.

And they would be wasting their time. I did wonder when when the politicians would wake up. Packaging printing is a multi-million pound industry. The big players have Eaton lads on their Boards and the boys in the print shops carry Union cards. It's a heavyweight, not to be messed with.

[butternutsquashpie]

In Canadian corner markets, instead of doing this, we just make all the Ciggie boxes hidden behind white plastic blinders. The blinders have names of the cigarettes on them and people just choose what they think "tastes good."

Doesn't seem to ever matter as people just end up choosing marboro or lucky strikes or whatever the bleeding hell gives them their kick. Think it's to discourage getting other packs or what not
inevitably, this is to just to cut down on demand (and therefore smokers) of cigarettes. they ride on the fact that colours and shite makes people want to buy more and more and more. it has quite an indirect correlation to the number of people who actually do smoke. But it is a correlation nonetheless........