Children attracted to colourful cigarette packaging

Research by the Irish Cancer Society has found children are attracted to colourful cigarette packaging.

 

The study of third class pupils in a Dublin school showed children found the packs appealing and were positive about “the bright colours and rainbow-coloured effects used” as well as the “fancy writing”.

 

Approximately 80% of smokers start before the age of 18 and children in Ireland begin smoking at an earlier age than any other country in Europe.

 

“"Young people are a key target market for the tobacco industry, which needs to recruit 50 new smokers a day to replace those who have either died or quit, in order to keep making profits. Most of these new smokers are children,” said a spokesperson.

 

When children were show examples of proposed plain packaging for cigarettes, they responded negatively, calling the packs “disgusting and gross”.

 

Health Minister James Reilly has secured the Cabinet’s agreement in introducing standardised packaging for tobacco products.