Tobacco images to cut need for cancer treatment

The government is introducing legislation requiring tobacco manufacturers to print graphic images on cigarette packets in a move designed to reduce smoking rates and cut the number of people requiring cancer treatment.

Health minister Alan Johnson announced the development, saying that the range of 15 picture warnings were the next step in reducing the number of people who smoke.

"Today's announcement, together with the introduction of the smokefree law last month and our plans to raise the legal age of sale for tobacco products, will potentially save thousands of lives and others will be spared the misery of watching family and friends die prematurely from smoke-related illnesses," Mr Johnson said in a statement.

Elspeth Lee, senior tobacco control manager at Cancer Research UK, said that international evidence showed warnings to be effective in increasing awareness of the risks associated with smoking.

"Cancer Research UK welcomes the introduction of picture warnings on cigarette packets and we hope this is a step towards the plain, generic packing of all tobacco products," she said.
 
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