Plain package campaign hails support
Wednesday August 8th, 2012
Campaigners today claimed 75,000 supporters backing proposals to introduce plain tobacco packaging in the UK.
A
government consultation on the issue closes on Friday and has been vigorously
opposed by cigarette companies.
According to Cancer Research UK, which supports the move, one company alone has spent £2 million drumming up opposition to plain packaging.
It said some 75,000 people have signed in support of its campaign. Nearly 200 health organisations have formed a coalition in support of the move.
Lung cancer patient Jim Richardson, aged 56, from Prudhoe in Northumberland, is among the campaign backers.
He said: "I know first-hand how horrific lung cancer is and how it’s almost always preventable by not smoking in the first place. My wife Di and I run children’s day nurseries and out-of-school clubs caring for young children.
"I would hate to think that any of the hundreds of children we have looked after might ever go through what I have because they were tempted by glitzy packets attempting to make smoking look cool."
Mr Richardson has advanced lung cancer but says chemotherapy has proved remarkably successful at treating the disease.
Jean King, of Cancer Research UK, said: "Our submission to the consultation outlines the evidence to back plain packaging and the public overwhelmingly support it.
"We urge the Department of Health to respond to the consultation as quickly as possible to stop another generation from becoming addicted to a product that will kill half of all long term smokers."
Tags: Cancer | Drug and Alcohol Abuse | UK News
Printer friendly page