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Labor rejects tobacco industry claim of plain packaging policy failure Labor rejects tobacco industry claim of plain packaging policy failure
(about 3 hours later)
Labor has rejected tobacco industry figures which show more cigarettes are being sold since the introduction of plain packaging. Labor has rejected tobacco industry figures that show more cigarettes are being sold since the introduction of plain packaging.
Tobacco company British American Tobacco Australia has jumped on the figures as proof the plain packaging policy has failed but they are contradicted by Australian Bureau of Statistics data as well as by preliminary studies into the impact of plain packaging on smoking habits. Labor introduced mandatory plain packaging in 2012 to much protest from tobacco companies. The tobacco company British American Tobacco Australia has jumped on the figures as proof the plain packaging policy has failed but they are contradicted by Australian Bureau of Statistics data as well as by preliminary studies into the impact of plain packaging on smoking habits. Labor introduced mandatory plain packaging in 2012 to much protest from tobacco companies.
Figures from InfoView, which are backed by cigarette companies Philip Morris and BATA, ran on the front page of the Australian on Friday, showing an increase of 0.3% in the volume of cigarettes being sold, but have not been adjusted to account for population growth. The research also showed the yearly decline in the number of people smoking more than halved. Figures from InfoView, which are backed by the cigarette companies Philip Morris and BATA, ran on the front page of the Australian on Friday, showing an increase of 0.3% in the volume of cigarettes being sold, but have not been adjusted to account for population growth. The research also showed the yearly decline in the number of people smoking more than halved.
When Guardian Australia contacted InfoView for the data we were directed to BATA, who sent a press release quoting the figures and slamming plain packaging. When Guardian Australia contacted InfoView for the data it was directed to BATA, who sent a press release quoting the figures and slamming plain packaging.
“With growth in industry volumes, fewer people quitting and a jump in the amount of cheap illegal cigarettes on the streets, you could draw the conclusion that people are actually smoking more now than before plain packaging came into effect,” spokesman Scott McIntyre said. “With growth in industry volumes, fewer people quitting and a jump in the amount of cheap illegal cigarettes on the streets, you could draw the conclusion that people are actually smoking more now than before plain packaging came into effect,” a spokesman, Scott McIntyre, said.
When asked to show the raw data of the research, McIntyre replied it was “commercially sensitive”.When asked to show the raw data of the research, McIntyre replied it was “commercially sensitive”.
“It's not BATA research. It's purchased from third party suppliers Roy Morgan and InfoView. We purchase information about our products, just like any other company that sells fast-moving consumer goods,” he said. “It's not BATA research,” he said. “It's purchased from third-party suppliers Roy Morgan and InfoView. We purchase information about our products, just like any other company that sells fast-moving consumer goods.”
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show a decline in smokers in Australia since 2001, a trend which continued in 2011-12, when the percentage of female smokers dropped to 16.3% and male smokers decreased to 20.4%. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show a decline in smokers in Australia since 2001, a trend that continued in 2011-12, when the percentage of female smokers dropped to 16.3% and male smokers decreased to 20.4%.
ABS figures also record a decline in the total household expenditure on tobacco and cigarettes.ABS figures also record a decline in the total household expenditure on tobacco and cigarettes.
The shadow health minister, Catherine King, referenced the ABS figures when commenting on the industry figures. South Australia has recorded an increase in the smoking rate in the past year, with 19.4% of the population smoking, up from 16.7%, according to government figures. The state is in the process of banning smoking in alfresco areas which the government is hoping will help lower the rate.
“Only the tobacco industry thinks plain packaging is a bad thing - that's because they know they'll be selling fewer cigarettes to fewer people,” she said. “It is incumbent on the government to express its unqualified support for plain packaging.” The opposition health minister, Catherine King, referenced the ABS figures when commenting on the industry figures.
“Only the tobacco industry thinks plain packaging is a bad thing – that's because they know they'll be selling fewer cigarettes to fewer people,” she said. “It is incumbent on the government to express its unqualified support for plain packaging.”
In BATA’s release it said it was “very clear all data available” over the past year showed the plain packaging policy was a failure.In BATA’s release it said it was “very clear all data available” over the past year showed the plain packaging policy was a failure.
Most researchers agree it is too early to properly measure the impacts of the policy but preliminary research has shown people have been turned off by the plain packaging, which shows graphic photos of effects of smoking, such as rotting teeth.Most researchers agree it is too early to properly measure the impacts of the policy but preliminary research has shown people have been turned off by the plain packaging, which shows graphic photos of effects of smoking, such as rotting teeth.
Research into the impact of the first three months of the policy, published in the British Medical Journal and funded by Cancer Council Victoria, found 30.6% of smokers using plain packaging perceived their cigarettes to be of lower quality than a year earlier, compared with 18.1% of smokers using branded cigarettes.Research into the impact of the first three months of the policy, published in the British Medical Journal and funded by Cancer Council Victoria, found 30.6% of smokers using plain packaging perceived their cigarettes to be of lower quality than a year earlier, compared with 18.1% of smokers using branded cigarettes.
It was also reported that 26.2% of plain-package smokers were less satisfied by their cigarettes than they were a year earlier, compared with 14.9% of branded-packet smokers.It was also reported that 26.2% of plain-package smokers were less satisfied by their cigarettes than they were a year earlier, compared with 14.9% of branded-packet smokers.