Study finds success of tobacco plain packaging
Welcoming the publication of a study in BMJ Open into the early impacts of Australia’s legislation on standardized tobacco packaging, the Scottish National Party has said that Prime Minister David Cameron is now facing serious questions after the Westminster government ditched the policy south of the border last week.
The study – which interviewed smokers before and after the introduction of the legislation - found that plain packaging for cigarettes seems to make tobacco less appealing and increases the urgency to quit smoking.
Days of media enquiries surrounding Mr Cameron’s adviser Lynton Crosby – whose lobbying firm is linked to the tobacco industry - have been met with a persistent refusal by the Prime Minister to reveal whether or not he and Mr Crosby ever discussed the policy before it was dropped.
Mr Crosby’s firm Crosby Textor worked for tobacco firms in Australia lobbying to have the standardized packaging policy dropped. It was also revealed last week that his company has also lobbied on behalf of Philip Morris International, a major beneficiary of the Westminster government’s decision to ditch plain packaging.
The Scottish Government confirmed last week that it will press ahead with the policy in Scotland.
Commenting, SNP MSP Mark McDonald said:
“These early findings are hugely encouraging and vindicate Australia’s bold decision to become the first country in the world to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes. I am delighted that the Scottish Government is committed to introducing this policy in Scotland.
“Sadly, it is a different story south of the border, with the Westminster government ditching plans to introduce plain packaging, just as they have ditched plans to follow Scotland’s lead and introduce a minimum price for alcohol.
“The fact that this policy has been shown to work in Lynton Crosby’s own back yard is hugely embarrassing to the Tories. It is personally damaging to Mr Cameron because he ditched the policy only a few days ago – a decision met with incredulity by health professionals and politicians from across the political spectrum.
“The Scottish Government is pressing ahead with plain packaging policy, just as it is pressing ahead with minimum pricing for alcohol. This is only possible because decisions about public health in Scotland are already being made in Scotland - demonstrating that the best decisions for Scotland are ones taken in Scotland.
“Today’s study simply highlights how out of touch and arrogant the Westminster government has become.”
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