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Unsightly packaging will reduce demand for cigarettes
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
WHO experts noted that simple, nondescript cigarette packaging really helps to reduce the number of cigarettes among the population and reduce the number of smokers, not only among adults, but also among teenagers. The first country to implement the innovation was Australia - here the new packaging for tobacco products has been used since the end of 2012. In May of this year, the process of preparing for the change of cigarette packaging began in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, and France.
Plain packaging should contain nothing but the name of the brand and product in a standard color and font; it is prohibited to place logos, advertising, or any images on a cigarette pack. According to experts, such a nondescript cigarette pack will reduce the demand for tobacco products, since in this case cigarettes will lose their status as a kind of "glamorous accessory", manufacturers will have limited opportunities to advertise and promote their product, and warnings about the dangers of smoking will look more effective on such packaging.
Previously, the WHO recommended banning cigarette advertising, sponsorship, and distributing warnings about the dangers of smoking (on TV, cigarette packaging, etc.) to combat smoking, and plain packaging is part of a comprehensive fight against the harmful habit.
Australia, as mentioned, has been using plain packaging for tobacco products for several years. The number of smokers in this country is declining, but the introduction of new packaging, along with larger warning labels about the dangers of smoking, allowed for an additional reduction in the number of new smokers among teenagers aged 14 and over over three years (from 2012 to 2015).
Experts say Australia's experience shows the potential of the plain pack approach and that many countries could use it in combination with other effective anti-smoking measures.
The WHO Department of Noncommunicable Disease Prevention noted that this year's World No Tobacco Day is held under the slogan "Get ready for plain packaging!" and this is no coincidence. Every year, smoking causes the death of 6 million people and countries, as new information in the health sector comes in, are gradually joining the global fight against this harmful habit.
The tobacco industry had enough time to prepare for the packaging change, but manufacturers have repeatedly tried to demand a ban on this restrictive measure, but most countries consider public health a priority and have refused to listen to the arguments of tobacco magnates.
Especially for No Tobacco Day, WHO has released new recommendations for country leaders, which, in addition to instructions on changing cigarette packaging, contain the latest factual data on the dangers of smoking.
Smoking causes serious diseases, from which 1 person dies every 6 seconds in the world, which is about 6 million deaths per year. Experts assume that in 15 years the number of deaths will increase to 8 million, mainly the population of countries with low and average living standards.
Read also: 10 ways to quit smoking
The fight against smoking is one of the main ways to improve the general health of citizens.