Chris Snowdon tweets:
Our last bright idea didn't work, say anti-smoking campaigners, so you must try our next bright idea.
He's referring to the latest study by researchers at Stirling University who conclude that warnings on the back of cigarette packs make them less visible and less effective.
Of course, this is merely the latest ruse to convince the Government to introduce plain packaging which, far from being plain, would feature graphic health warnings on the front as well as the back of the pack.
As for the European Commission's Tobacco Products Directive, there is a proposal for health warnings to cover up to 75 per cent of the pack.
The Daily Mail has a report on the Stirling study: Graphic warnings on the back of cigarette packets will not deter teenage smokers, study warns (Daily Mail).
It includes Forest's response:
"Everyone, including teenagers, knows there are health risks associated with smoking.
"Increasing the size of the warnings, or putting them on the front of the pack, will make no difference.
"If you want to smoke you will smoke, regardless of the size or position of the warning.
"If governments want to reduce youth smoking rates they should crack down on shopkeepers who sell cigarettes to children and tackle illicit trade.
"They could also ban proxy purchasing and make it illegal to buy cigarettes if you are under 18.
"Instead, tobacco control campaigners are obsessed with headline-grabbing measures, like plain packaging, that merely highlight the failure of previous initiatives."
The Scotsman also has the story – Teenage smokers ignore cigarette warnings – and a quote by Sheila Duffy, chief executive of ASH Scotland:
“Studies have shown that introducing plain packaging means greater attention is paid to health warnings,” she said.
If I remember that's remarkably similar to what they said before graphic warnings were introduced on the back of cigarette packs.
And what a great idea that turned out to be.
Doh!