Policy digest: Reducing smoking

Recently, two major legislative changes have targeted tobacco and children. The first was a proposal to ban advertising on the packaging of tobacco products. This will mean that all packets would only display the brand and variant name. This could be implemented as soon as May 2016, at the same time as the European Tobacco Products Directive, if MPs vote in favour of the legislative change. The European Tobacco Products Directive will ban flavoured tobacco, including menthol, and will require packages to include larger health warnings. Supporters quote the success of Australia's standardised packaging in cutting the number of young people who take up smoking. The second development to tobacco policy is the recently approved ban on smoking in cars with children. This law will come into force on 1 October 2015 and will carry a fine of up to £250 for those caught breaking it. For more information on the government's tobacco policy, visit: www.gov.uk/government/policies/reducing-smoking