North Yorkshire County Council has welcomed a landmark decision to introduce standardised packaging for tobacco products across Britain.
From 20 May 2016, all cigarettes and hand-rolled tobacco will be packaged in drab green, with large graphic images on the front and back, and health warnings on all four sides of the pack. There is a one-year transitional period for selling through existing stock, and the new packs are scheduled to hit retailer’s shelves in the next few months.
The ruling supports the World No Tobacco Day (31 May) messages to raise awareness of the health risks associated with tobacco use and champion laws designed to reduce tobacco consumption. World No Tobacco Day is organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and this year has the support of the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control .The new legislation means that the UK is the second country in the world to introduce standardised packaging, following Australia in 2012.
“Plain packaging plays an important part in reducing the attractiveness of tobacco products; restricts use of tobacco packaging as a form of tobacco advertising and promotion; limits misleading packaging and labelling; and increases the effectiveness of health warnings,” said County Councillor David Chance, Executive Member for Stronger Communities and Public Health.
“Studies show that two thirds of smokers want to quit, but around 16% of adults in North Yorkshire still smoke and it remains the county’s biggest killer, causing around 1,000 deaths in North Yorkshire every year.
“Half of long-term smokers die prematurely from a smoking-related disease, and every month 61 people in North Yorkshire discover they have cancer caused by smoking. Anything that reduces the attractiveness of tobacco products is something we actively support.”
Smokers in North Yorkshire wanting to give up the habit have a wide range of support available through the Smokefreelife North Yorkshire service commissioned by the County Council.
Smokefreelife North Yorkshire offers out of hours support for people who work, and accessible clinics in local settings, including community centres and GP surgeries. Smokers have the option of attending group sessions, receiving support through the Smokefreelife North Yorkshire online service or traditional one-to-one sessions with an advisor.
For more information about the Smokefreelife North Yorkshire stop smoking service or to sign up, ring 0800 246 5215 or 01609 663 023 or text QUIT to 66777. Visit www.smokefreelifenorthyorkshire.co.uk for the nearest stop smoking clinic.
“We recognise the opportunity to seize the moment locally with the introduction of standardised packaging,” added Cllr Chance. “We will be working with partners across the county to ensure we maximise the potential to support smokers who want to quit, and to discourage children and young people to start smoking, as part of the overarching Breathe 2025 vision for a smoke-free generation.”
Breathe 2025 is the regional campaign to eliminate tobacco-related harms and health inequalities in the Yorkshire and The Humber area over the next ten years. The vision is to see the next generation of children born and raised in a place free from tobacco, where smoking is unusual.
The Breathe 2025 website, www.breathe2025.org.uk, includes a campaign video. The campaign can be followed at twitter.com/breathe2025 and facebook.com/breathe2025.