The Department of Health has issued a Written Ministerial Statement on plain packaging:
Here's a taste:
Many thousands of responses to the consultation were received, and the views expressed were highly polarised, with strong views put forward on both sides of the debate and a range of organisations generating campaigns and petitions. Of those who provided detailed feedback, some 53% were in favour of standardised packaging while 43% thought the Government should do nothing about tobacco packaging.
Having carefully considered these differing views, the Government has decided to wait until the emerging impact of the decision in Australia can be measured before we make a final decision on this policy in England.
Currently, only Australia has introduced standardised packaging, although the Governments of New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland have committed to introduce similar policies. Standardised packaging, therefore, remains a policy under consideration.
In the meantime, the Government in England will continue to work to reduce smoking rates through ending the display of tobacco in all shops, running national behaviour change campaigns to encourage smokers to quit and through supporting local authorities to provide effective stop smoking services. Our strategy is working – we are recognised as the leading country in Europe for tobacco control and for the first time since records began, adult smoking rates are under 20%.
Interestingly, you have to download and read the actual report on the consultation in order to discover that:
In total, 665,989 campaign responses were received from 24 separate campaigns. Around two-thirds of campaign responses received were from people who are opposed to the introduction of standardised packaging (total of 427,888 responses) and one-third of campaign responses received were from people who are in support (238,101 responses) ...
Bizarrely the report claims that "the consultation was not intended, or designed, to elicit representative samples of public opinion".
As someone has just commented, "Is that not exactly what a ‘public’ consultation is intended to do?!"
One has to conclude that this is a face saving exercise on the part of civil servants at the Department of Health, hence they continue to spin to the bitter end.
There's only one thing that matters, however. The Government has formally announced that it will not introduce standardised packaging of tobacco any time soon.
I think we'll chalk that one down as a little victory.
Click here to download the Consultation on the standardised packaging of tobacco products: summary report.