Tobacco packaging - Well done Australia

Ireland was one of the first countries to introduce comprehensive legislation to discourage smoking, a fact often related with more than a little — justified — pride by our legislators.

Unfortunately, those measures have not been as successful as might have been hoped.

A tougher attitude was seen in Australia’s highest court yesterday when it sanctioned anti-tobacco marketing laws despite a challenge from global tobacco giants. The decision means cigarette products must be sold in plain green packets without branding. The packages will also carry pretty blunt health warnings.

We should follow Australia’s lead and make smoking so unattractive that thousands of lives and millions in healthcare funding are not squandered every year.