Cancer Research UK’s Campaign on Plain Packaging

I am Ambassador for Cancer Research UK for the constituency of Greenwich & Woolwich. On 27th June, I joined other Ambassadors from across the country at the House of Commons where we spoke with MPs and their teams about Cancer Research UK’s campaign for plain packaging of tobacco products.

The government are currently consulting on this issue, with the consultation due to end on 10th August 2012. Plain packaging means the removal of all branding from cigarette packets so that all packets from all tobacco brands will look the same. Anti-smuggling measures and health warnings will remain.

Packets are designed to look attractive and communicate the ‘personality’ of a brand. Research by the Department of Health has shown that the attractiveness of tobacco packaging has a clear influence on children and is appealing to them. 8 out of 10 smokers start smoking under the age of 18 years. Plain packets will not stop everyone from smoking, but they will give millions of kids one less reason to start.

Please show your support while the Government is listening by signing the petition at www.theanswerisplain.org.

Suzanne is a Partner and is head of the clinical negligence department.