Youngsters in Sussex Buy Cigarettes

One in eight young people in Sussex are being hoodwinked by cigarette packaging. Just over 12% of 16-25 year-olds surveyed for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) believed one branded cigarette pack was less harmful than another based on the packet design alone. However all cigarettes contain harmful toxins, tar, and carbon monoxide. The report is published ahead of a government consultation on whether Britain should adopt plain packaging for tobacco products. One in six said they'd consider the pack design when deciding which cigarettes to buy while one in nine said they'd choose a brand because it was considered cool. Most of those surveyed, 88%, thought plain packs were less attractive than branded packs - showing how plain packaging could make a significant difference in deterring young smokers. A ban on selling cigarettes from vending machines came into force in October. Pubs, restaurants and nightclubs in Brighton and Hove and across Sussex face fines of up to £2,500 if they are caught using the machines from now on. It is also against the law to display advertisements or pictures of tobacco products on the machines even if they are empty. A survey by NHS Sussex this year revealed around 10% of girls and 8% of boys under 16 in the county smoke regularly. However this is a drop compared to a survey carried out in 2007 when 15% of girls and 9% of boys said they were regular smokers. BHF director of policy Betty McBride said: “As informed adults we know that smoking is a deadly addiction that kills half of all smokers. “However young people are not always fully aware of the risks, and the power of branding holds more sway. “Tobacco advertising is rightly banned in the UK. Yet current packaging clearly still advertises tobacco on the cigarette box. “It's an absurd loophole that we must close if we really want to protect younger generations from taking up this fatal habit