1. Blackpool Health Committee 5th July 2012 Consultation on Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products

2. Smoking is still the greatest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in England

3. Background Smoking prevalence is higher in more deprived and certain population groups and contributes to health inequalities Plain or standardised packaging is recommended by the World Health Organisation as part of a comprehensive tobacco control Strategy Packaging and cigarettes themselves one of few remaining advertising routes for tobacco companies The Government’s Tobacco Plan 2011 includes commitment to “consult on options to reduce the promotional impact of tobacco packaging, including plain packaging”.

4. Why this issue matters in Blackpool Approximately 38,000 (27.5%) of the adult population smoke in Blackpool More pregnant women in Blackpool smoke than anywhere else in the country Around 400 people die prematurely every year in Blackpool and a further 8000 will suffer from a smoking related disease 200,0000 children and young people in England start smoking every year

5. Examples of existing packaging

6. What is standardised packaging? All cigarettes would have to be sold in: Plain coloured packs; No trademarks, logos colour schemes and graphics; Product and brand name written in standard type face; Health warnings on all packs; Tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide yields; Bar codes for stock control; Invisible markings to prevent fraud.

7. Aim of plain, standardised packaging To discourage children from smoking by: Making tobacco packaging look less attractive Increasing the effectiveness of health warnings Preventing the use of misleading and deceptive colours to create false beliefs of different strength and quality Removing the positive association with cigarette brands and image Based on peer reviewed evidence

8. What the evidence tells us Evidence suggest that plain packaging is likely to be effective in: discouraging children from starting to smoke in the first place encouraging smokers to quit preventing relapse among those who have done so As Cancer Research UK puts it: “Plain packs won’t stop everyone from smoking, but they will give millions of children one less reason to start.”

9. Emphasis on Children Smokers start as children and continue as adults: two thirds of smokers start before they are 18 Every year 340,000 children in the UK are tempted to try smoking Research has shown that they are more likely to be attracted by designed tobacco packs, than by plain packs Impact of plain packaging on retailers likely to be very gradual as fewer young people start to smoke

10. Some myths about Plain Packaging “It won’t work” “Tobacco smuggling will increase” “Plain packs will cause confusion for retailers” “There’s no public support for plain packaging” “It will breach international trade laws” “Tobacco will be out of sight so we don’t need plain packs” “Tobacco today, alcohol and unhealthy food tomorrow?”

11. How can the Committee Help Respond to consultation Visiting the Department of Health website and completing the online form at http://consultations.dh.gov.uk Filling in the response forms by downloading it at http://consultations.dh.gov.uk Emailing your response to: tobaccopacks@dh.gsi.gov.uk Posting your response to: Tobacco Packs Consultation Department of Health 7 TH Floor Wellington House 133- 155 Waterloo House London SE1 8UG By 10 July 2012

12. Thank you For more information please contact: Tracey Englishby Stop Smoking Coordinator Telephone - 01253 651692 Tracey.Englishby@blackpool.nhs.uk Jane Roberts Tobacco Control Commissioner Telephone - 01253 651571 Jane.Roberts@blackpool.nhs.uk