Tobacco decision welcomed as deterrent

Plain packaging won’t stop those already addicted from lighting up, but will help stop people from picking up the habit, says a leading health academic. The dean of medicine and health sciences at the Australian National University, Professor Nicholas Glasgow, has welcomed the High Court’s decision to uphold world-first plain packaging laws, saying it will reduce the chances of people smoking in the first place. “I think this is a great outcome for the Australian government and for Australia,” Glasgow said. However, he said the contribution plain packaging will make to smoking cessation by those who regularly smoke is likely to be “very small if any at all”. But he explained the packaging strategy is primarily aimed at discouraging people from starting smoking, rather than enticing regular smokers to quit. Clever packaging has been one strategy used to link smoking with glamour and success, but now plain packaging will greatly reduce this opportunity, he said. According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics trends in smoking, rates of smoking have been steadily decreasing over time. Young people were less likely to smoke in 2007 to 2008 than in 1989 to 1990. This may due to the fact that in 2006, graphic images depicting the effects of smoking cigarettes were required to be displayed on cigarette packets, in an effort to warn people off smoking. “These are real consequences of smoking and displaying graphic images which link directly the cigarette with the possible consequence is a good idea,” Glasgow said. “I think plain packaging will make a further contribution to a reduction in smoking prevalence in Australia.” He said the outcome will encourage other countries to consider adopting similar legislation and this will contribute to a reduction in smoke rates elsewhere.