Decrease in tobacco sales after plain packaging rules came into force

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Since the UK introduced plain packaging for tobacco products sold within the country, cigarette sales have decreased by about 20 million units per month. The UK is the second country to move to using plain packaging for tobacco products, the first being Australia. The tobacco industry is concerned that plain packaging on their products will lead to an increase in cigarette smuggling. Simon Clark, director of smokers’ lobby group Forest, disputed the findings linking plain packaging to a drop in cigarette sales, saying: “According to ONS figures, the smoking rate fell significantly more in the years before the introduction of plain packaging than in the period since,” he said.

Read the full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/13/uk-tobacco-sales-fell-faster-after-plain-packaging-rules-came-into-force-cigarettes