New evidence downplays possible downsides of plain cigarette packaging

New research has suggested that concerns over plain packaging for tobacco products leading to a rise in the illegal tobacco trade or causing damage to small retailers may be unfounded.

A study from Melbourne's Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer has stated there is there is no evidence for these concerns, which it claims have been predominantly put forward by the tobacco industry.

Australia introduced standardised tobacco packaging in December 2012. For this study, the team conducted phone interviews with smokers about their tobacco purchasing habits a year before the measure was introduced, during rollout in 2012 and one year after implementation.

Analysis of responses from just under 2,000 smokers showed no change in the places smokers usually bought their tobacco, with the use of illicit unbranded tobacco showing no increase.

Chris Woodhall, senior policy officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "The way forward for the UK is clear: the government must introduce regulations for standardised packaging without delay."

Australia was the first country in the world to introduce standardised packaging for tobacco products, with New Zealand, Ireland and the UK all considering following suit. The British government has taken a generally positive stance towards the move since it was first tabled.