Plain packaging will fuel illicit sales, Irish newsagents warn

NFRN Ireland has asked the Department of Health to introduce alternative measures including better education for teenagers in the dangers of smoking, and the promotion and support of electronic cigarettes

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NFRN Ireland has warned the government that putting tobacco into plain packs will not stop people from smoking but will exacerbate the illicit trade.

In a submission made to the Department of Health this week, NFRN Ireland cautioned that the only people to benefit from standardised packaging is the criminal element who sell smuggled or counterfeit tobacco.

"Criminals are highly unlikely to ask children for ID and therefore willing to sell them tobacco, meaning the smoker is exposed to the health risk earlier," the NFRN Ireland response said.

Instead the organisation advised the Department to consider other ways to stop people from starting to smoke, such as better education for teenagers in the dangers of smoking, and the promotion and support of electronic cigarettes. However, for this to be successful e-cigarettes had to be available from a variety of outlets.

The submission warned: "NFRN Ireland would strongly urge government not to regulate these products for pharmaceutical sale only. In order to maximise the opportunity of getting smokers to try an electronic cigarette the alternative product needs to be placed in proximity to the traditional cigarette. By removing electronic cigarettes from newsagents and convenience stores and placing them in another building with shorter opening hours the likelihood of a smoker spontaneously deciding to try an alternative cigarette is diminished."

Also in its response NFRN Ireland included recommended solutions for tackling the illicit market. This included a Smartphone app which could be used to determine whether a product has had duty paid, increasing the number of scanners at ports from two to eight and banning the sale of tobacco at markets and from door to door.

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