Opposing views on merits of plain cigarette packaging

The tobacco industry and a leading cancer charity have offered opposing verdicts on the success of the plain packaging of cigarettes, two years to the day since the measure was first introduced in Australia.

The group behind the marketing of cigarette brands such as Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut, Camel and Amber Leaf in Ireland has claimed that the measure has been “a failure”, and said figures from Australian government agencies show plain packaging has done nothing to speed up the decline in smoking rates nor consistently reduce sales of tobacco.

“These facts have been deliberately ignored by plain packaging advocates,” said Igor Dzaja, general manager of Japan Tobacco International Ireland.

“A further serious omission has been the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s finding that more 12to 17-year-olds are smoking on a daily basis now than before the rules on packaging came into effect,” he said.

Mr Dzaja also claimed Australia has also seen an increase in sales of illicit tobacco over the last two years, citing data from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service showing seizures increased over 41% over 2011-12 and 2012-13.

“The evidence should make sobering reading for those who claimed it would result in public health benefits. Plain packaging is a disproportionate, unjustified and illegal measure that, if introduced here, will have significant negative implications for Ireland on a number of levels,” he said.

However, British charity Cancer Research UK said Australia was reaping the rewards of introducing the plain packaging adding that yesterday’s anniversary should be marked by renewing pressure on the British government to introduce the regulation.

“This is an anniversary worth celebrating. Australia took the lead on this issue and two years later they’re reaping the rewards,” said Sarah Woolnough, the charity’s executive director of policy and information.

“Smoking rates have fallen, more people than ever support standard packs and scare stories about flooding the market with cheap, illegal tobacco have failed to materialise. It’s been a resounding success in Australia and we’re confident the same can happen here.” she said.

Ireland has come under pressure from German MEPs and business groups to abandon plans to be the first EU member to introduce uniform packaging.