Standardised packaging of tobacco products

The consultation on standardised packaging of tobacco products asked people for views on whether standardised tobacco packaging would:

• reduce the appeal of tobacco products to consumers
• increase the effectiveness of health warnings on tobacco product packaging
• reduce the ability of tobacco packaging to mislead consumers about the harmful effects of smoking
• have a positive effect on smoking-related attitudes, beliefs, intentions and behaviours, particularly among children and young people

The consultation was accompanied by a systematic, academic review of the evidence for standardised packaging.

The Department of Health received many thousands of consultation responses with strong views on both sides of the debate.