UK MPs back Plain Packaging

somesoldiers

So I heard James Reilly on the radio this morning defending the plain packaging legislation and while even as a smoker I am happy to see anything that might reduce the take up of the habit I couldn't help but feel they were building us all up for a fall against the mighty tobacco manufacturers with multiple IP cases that would take years and cost the tax payers millions.

Feel a bit better now that the UK are on board too
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-31839859

MPs have voted in favour of introducing standardised packaging for cigarettes in the UK.

It means from 2016 every packet will look the same except for the make and brand name, with graphic photos accompanying health warnings if the House of Lords also approves the move.

The Irish Republic passed a similar law earlier this month and Australia has had plain packaging since 2012.

Health campaigners said they were "delighted" with the move.

Some 367 MPs voted in favour of standardised packaging with 113 against it in a free vote.

cloud493

I'd rather they just ****ing did it at this point instead of endlessly talking about it.

Lapin

cloud493 wrote: »

I'd rather they just ****ing did it at this point instead of endlessly talking about it.

I knew someone would drag the gay marriage referendum into this one somehow.

kneemos

The Brits are being sued as well.

Hermy

What's the EU position on this?

Kevin McCloud

Hermy wrote: »

What's the EU position on this?

Missionary.

Cookie_Monster

kneemos wrote: »

The Brits are being sued as well.

the simple answer to that it just to threaten to make cigarettes illegal altogether if the companies even try it.

Rothmans

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

the simple answer to that it just to threaten to make cigarettes illegal altogether if the companies even try it.

And lose all that lovely lovely excise duty they make off cigarettes. Not a chance.

AndonHandon

They should just ban fags altogether.

/doesn't even check whether this is a gay marriage thread or not

brummytom

As a smoker, I honestly can't see what effect this would have. I can't say I've ever bought fags because I liked their funky packaging. The only thing it'll do is make it more obvious when you're smoking Eastern European fags.

syklops

brummytom wrote: »

As a smoker, I honestly can't see what effect this would have. I can't say I've ever bought fags because I liked their funky packaging. The only thing it'll do is make it more obvious when you're smoking Eastern European fags.

Yeah it was totally the sexy camel on the front which got me hooked in the first place.

I keep saying, all this will do is bring back the days of the metal cigarette case, and Id be very surprised if Camel and Marlboro et al don't start giving away metal branded cases in the next few weeks/months.

In Australia the tobacco companies tried to get round the plain packaging rules by double packing, putting a plain wrapper over a branded box.
The government had to rewrite the rules to stop this.

Smokers who dislike the plain packaging will find ways round it, like cigarette cases as mentioned up thread or stickers.

TwoShedsJackson

This would sort it no bother.

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2015/03/09/new-cigarette-packaging-to-feature-pictures-of-your-dad-riding-your-mam/

B_Wayne

brummytom wrote: »

As a smoker, I honestly can't see what effect this would have. I can't say I've ever bought fags because I liked their funky packaging. The only thing it'll do is make it more obvious when you're smoking Eastern European fags.

I imagine the smoking companies have researched hence the effort to sue.

ancapailldorcha

Once TTIP is signed in, the government will be sued by these companies so it's not viable in the long term.

spockety

The point is not to affect current smokers. It is to continually introduce measures which denormalise smoking in society to a point where bugger all youngsters take it up. This is the only way to eradicate it.

Excise duty is not an issue, it's a zero sum game, people will just spend their money on other things which incur VAT, and the cost of running the health service could fall.

hfallada

It's great to see the government trying to reduce smoking. But smoking rates are in decline anyway, so rates of smoking were going to fall any way.

But the government is hardly doing anything to tackle obesity. This country is seriously overweight and nothing is being done about it. I went to Munich for the summer and when I came back home I couldn't believe how fat everyone was here. Obesity is going to be a massive burden on the health system soon

K.Flyer

Rothmans wrote: »

And lose all that lovely lovely excise duty they make off cigarettes. Not a chance.

Most if not all of that lovely excise duty I imagine goes straight into our health service to pay for patients with smoking related illness and diseases.

Korat

I wonder how the Litigation will work. If Ireland becomes the EU test case then we'll probably get assistance funding the defence to Tobacco's challenges.

It could be a good time to get into law this could go on longer than a planning tribunal.

KungPao

I wonder when booze will get the plain packing treatment?

Imagine going into an offie and all you see are 100s of white cans with the brand name in times new roman.

PopePalpatine

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

Once TTIP is signed in, the government will be sued by these companies so it's not viable in the long term.

Honestly, the TTIP seriously depresses me. Not enough people know about this horrendous trade deal that only a Wanker of Wall Street could love.

B_Wayne

hfallada wrote: »

It's great to see the government trying to reduce smoking. But smoking rates are in decline anyway, so rates of smoking were going to fall any way.

But the government is hardly doing anything to tackle obesity. This country is seriously overweight and nothing is being done about it. I went to Munich for the summer and when I came back home I couldn't believe how fat everyone was here. Obesity is going to be a massive burden on the health system soon

While I agree with you on obesity. Suspect our measures against smoking in past decade have huge responsibility for decline.

redfacedbear

syklops wrote: »

Yeah it was totally the sexy camel on the front which got me hooked in the first place.

I keep saying, all this will do is bring back the days of the metal cigarette case, and Id be very surprised if Camel and Marlboro et al don't start giving away metal branded cases in the next few weeks/months.

Camel already have - a 'special edition' metal case was about a few months ago.

suicide_circus

Cant wait for plane packaging on soft drinks and coco pops etc

biko

It's misleading to call it plain packaging. It's not a white box, it's a box with pics of lungs and teeth detroyed by smoking.

That said I'm ok with "plain" packaging, if it's shown to reduce kids smoking.

biko

biko wrote: »

It's misleading to call it plain packaging. It's not a white box, it's a box with pics of lungs and teeth detroyed by smoking.

That said I'm ok with "plain" packaging, if it's shown to reduce kids smoking.

It's more the "unbranded" part that really upsets the tobacco industry, their liveried packets provide free advertising whenever they're out on display on tables or on the floor.