THE UK Government is seeking views on adding pack inserts into tobacco products which would encourage more smokers to quit.
Placed inside the packaging of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco, the inserts would contain positive messages aimed at encouraging people to quit and signpost them to advice and support.
The messages would set out the health benefits of quitting, such as how improvements to breathing can be experienced ‘within a matter of days’ and a 50% reduction in the risk of a heart attack within a year. Savings would also be highlighted, with the government saying the average person is likely to save over £2,000 per year if they quit.
Pack inserts are already used in other countries including Canada and Israel, with Australia also announcing its intention to introduce them. The UK Government said there is evidence they can be an effective means of encouraging smokers to quit.
An evaluation of the policy’s impact in Canada found almost one in three smokers had read the inserts at least once in the past month, and those who were exposed to the inserts multiple times were ‘significantly’ more likely to try to give up smoking.
Estimates from the UK Government show introducing pack inserts into all tobacco products in the UK could lead to an additional 30,000 smokers giving up their habit, which it says would deliver health benefits worth £1.6 billion.
Health and social care secretary, Steve Barclay, said, “Smoking places a huge burden on the NHS, economy and individuals. It directly causes a whole host of health problems – including cancers and cardiovascular disease – and costs the economy billions every year in lost productivity. By taking action to reduce smoking rates and pursuing our ambition to be smokefree by 2030, we will reduce the pressure on the NHS and help people to live healthier lives.”
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), added, “Smoking is very addictive, and it takes smokers on average 30 attempts before they succeed in stopping, so encouraging them to keep on trying is vital. Pack inserts do this by backing up the grim messages about death and disease on the outside with the best advice about how to quit on the inside.
“They will help deliver not just the smokefree 2030 ambition, but also the major conditions strategy, as smoking is responsible for all 6 major conditions from cancer to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, as well as dementia, mental ill health and musculoskeletal disorders.”
A consultation accompanying the plans, which will run until October 10, seeks views on the potential introduction and design of pack inserts.
