Another win for plain packaging

Yesterday was a landmark day for public health in Ireland, with the Health minister announcing the approval of the Public Health (Standardized Packaging of Tobacco) Bill.

Ten years on from the workplace-smoking ban, the new bill will eliminate the last marketing tool of the tobacco industry and discourage young people from taking up the habit that kills 5,200 Irish people every year.

Ireland will be the first country in the EU to introduce plain packaging legislation and the third in the world, after Australia and New Zealand.

The Irish government has set a target, that the country will be tobacco-free by 2025. The Irish Cancer Society believes that this goal can only be achieved with the introduction of plain packaging.

“The Irish Cancer Society has fought very hard for the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco,” says Kathleen O’Meara, Head of Advocacy and Communications. 

“The tobacco industry will continue to argue that plain packaging doesn’t work and say that the illicit trade will increase,” Ms O’Meara continued. “But the tobacco industry has never had an interest in public health. Their recent attempt at showing the illicit trade in Australia has increased was rubbished by Customs Officials who said that plain packaging has had ‘no impact’ on the illicit tobacco trade."

In Australia, initial studies after the introduction of plain packaging found a staggering 78% rise in calls to the Quitline printed on packs. The Irish Cancer Society welcomes the decision to include the National Smokers’ Quitline, run by the Society and the HSE, on the new packs.

The Irish Cancer Society will continue to ensure that plain packaging of cigarettes is brought in as quickly as possible.

“This opportunity to protect the lives of the next generation and to make smoking history in Ireland,” Ms O’Meara concluded.

To read more about the new bill and the work of the Irish Cancer Society, click here.