A Government backbencher has expressed concern that changing the packaging of cigarettes will do little to cut the number of smokers. Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell said no smoker was deterred by how cigarettes were packaged.
“If they were wrapped in a dirty rag, not alone would a smoker smoke them but the tragedy is that he or she would grow to love the dirty rag, such is the nature of addiction.” She added: “Packaging just does not figure when it comes to addiction.”
Ms Mitchell, a former heavy smoker, said: “That’s why heroin addicts use dirty needles and employ desperate measures in order to get their fix. That’s why methadone users turn up every day to get methadone. It doesn’t matter a hoot to them whether it’s in a bottle or a packet. They will still turn up because of their addiction. Packaging just does not figure when it comes to addiction.
“We are talking about a packet that already contains a death threat and it is difficult to see how it could become more threatening or less attractive than is the case already”.
The Dublin South TD was speaking during the ongoing Dáil debate on the Public Health (Standard Packaging of Tobacco) Bill, which has already been passed by the Seanad. The legislation will change tobacco product packaging to display graphic pictures of diseases caused by smoking as well as warnings such as “smoking kills”. These will cover up to 65 per cent of the packet, which will limit displays of the brand name to a line of small print at the top of the cigarette pack.
Source: Marie O'Halloran, Irish Times, 04/07/14
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
