We need to protect future generation

It was great to see independent retailer Sunder Sandher’s support for tackling smoking in young people (Letters, last week). We can also agree on many points such as the need to tackle those who sell smuggled cigarettes, strong enforcement of under-aged-sales law and education for all on the hazards of smoking. Sadly half of all young people who start to smoke today will die up to ten years early as a result of their habit if they continue to smoke.

However, on the point of standardised (or ‘plain’) packaging of products it would appear that Sunder has been influenced by misinformation. There has not been a big increase in illegal tobacco sales and no increase in overall tobacco consumption in Australia since plain packaging was introduced. Tobacco industry funded research has asserted this but independent evidence suggests that it is false.

The truth is, now that tobacco advertising and sponsorship is prohibited, tobacco packaging has become one of the tobacco industry’s leading (and last) promotional tools. Research suggests that standardised packaging would increase the impact of health warnings, reduce false and misleading messages that one type of cigarette is less harmful than another and reduce the attractiveness of smoking to young people.

We owe it to the future generations of Warwickshire children to protect them from the marketing of the tobacco industry and to give them the best chance of living a long and healthy life.

We are also concerned about existing smokers too and encourage adult smokers to obtain support and advice from the free Warwickshire Stop Smoking Service – 0800 085 2917.

Paul Hooper, Community Safety and Substance, Warwickshire County Council