WARRINGTON Borough Council has welcomed the announcement that regulations on standardised “plain” packaging of cigarettes and other tobacco products, will be put to a vote in Parliament.
The council has worked closely with Tobacco Free Futures, the North West social enterprise, which has been campaigning for 
standardised packaging in the region.
In the North West, four out of five children who try smoking do so before they are 14 years old and around 18,000 children from the region start to smoke each year.
Latest figures from Public Health England also show that an estimated 13.59 per cent of young people in Warrington currently smoke.
Two thirds of current smokers started when children and half of all lifetime smokers will die from a smoking related disease.
Peter Astley, the council’s assistant director of regulation and public protection, said: “It’s been hard work challenging the immense amount of lobbying done by the tobacco industry, but I am so glad this has paid off.
“It’s been a challenge to try to influence, and change, opinions but I am delighted the penny has dropped.
“We are on the verge of victory thanks to the hard work and persistence of all the organisations involved and we will continue to work together to achieve our aims and pave the way for plain packaging.
“We may have nearly won this important battle, but we must all keep fighting to further reduce smoking and condemn this habit, which prematurely kills over half its users, to the history books.”
Andrea Crossfield, chief executive of Tobacco Free Futures, said: “This is excellent news and a victory for our children and young people, and a heavy loss for the tobacco industry.
“The regulations still need to be passed into law but support amongst all MPs – especially in the North West – is strong, and we believe that the great majority of MPs and Peers will vote for the Regulations.
“The evidence is clear that heavily branded, brightly coloured packs are attractive to children. That’s why the tobacco industry spends vast amounts of time and money targeting young people, and opposing this measure in order to recruit the next generation of smokers.”
There is already strong public support in the North West for standardised packaging with 64 per cent calling for the measure to be introduced.
WARRINGTON Borough Council has welcomed the announcement that
regulations on standardised “plain” packaging of cigarettes and other
tobacco products, will be put to a vote in Parliament. Council welcomes anti-smoking moves
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
