Tobacco manufacturers might be forced to sell their products in grey or brown plain packaging in order to discourage youngsters from smoking. Ministers want to change all brand packages to one standard color, because those colored cigarette packages attract each day more and more young smokers.

A representative from the Department of Health stated that colorful packages are widespread because they are the last form of marketing available for tobacco manufacturers in order to attract new smokers.

The present goal is to require retailers hide their displays of tobacco products so that youngsters are not drawn by the packing. Ministers also want to analyze the effect of plain packets; they want to see if changing cigarette package look could discourage children from smoking and help those people who want to quit this bad habit.

Plain packages would simply show basic information about the given tobacco product with a health warning placed on it.

“We should try new methods and take a decision in order to help the population. That is why I want to analyze carefully the idea of plain package. One thing is clear that package helps to attract smokers, so it makes sense to think about less attractive packages,” stated, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

It is very bad that youngsters are being lured to smoke by colorful designs on packets. The number of deaths from smoking is still too high, and the cost to the economy is huge. All that money could be used to assure a good education to our children and treat various diseases.

“Very soon we will set out a new approach to public health. We plan to go further and improve the health of our nation basing on evidences that really work,” states Mr. Lansley.

“We are very glad that the Secretary of State understands the consequences of colored cigarette package, which attract children and young people. In case he is ready to put tobacco products in plain packages, then he should set a date when this law will come into effect.

Time is running and we should protect our children now. The law to put tobacco products out of sight should be adopted next year. In case we will wait for legislation related to plain packages it will take many years and a whole generation will be addicted to tobacco,” Chief executive Deborah Arnott declared.

Despite quite strong opposition from the tobacco industry, Australia plans to sell already plain-packaged cigarettes by the summer of 2012. Recently, Cancer Research UK encouraged this move, stating that similar legislations should be introduced in England.

Since the restriction on tobacco marketing was implemented in UK in 2002, multi-colored packs have become the unique way that tobacco manufacturers can promote their products.