Watch and share our video about tobacco industry tactics

Back in April 2012 – when the Department of Health first launched a public consultation on the future of tobacco packaging – we didn’t think we’d still be working so hard to convince the government to remove the brightly coloured and slick designs seen on today’s packs.

The evidence is clear, our researchers are clear and the health community is clear – tobacco packaging attracts customers and helps the tobacco industry sell its lethal products.

Those ‘customers’ include children. We want to stop the tobacco industry being able to market their goods as regular, everyday products. We want to give children one less reason to start smoking.

The consultation closed and the government went away to consider their response.

We were massively disappointed when they said they wanted to wait to see the impact of a similar measure in Australia.

By not proceeding, the government is effectively allowing more time for more children to be lured into an addiction that kills half of all long smokers.

But now there is a chance to act.

Members of the House of Lords agree with us that there is no need to wait because the evidence is already convincing. They want to add an amendment to another Bill they’re debating, the Children and Families Bill.

This amendment allows Parliament to decide whether to put the health of children ahead of the profits of the tobacco industry. This industry has fought hard and opposed every effective measure that might reduce smoking rates, as such measures ultimately reduce the number of customers and profits.

As part of the fight, we want to expose the tobacco industry’s tactics. Check out our new video and see what you think. Globally, the industry will do whatever it legally can, no matter how unethical we might think its actions are here in the UK.

The industry wants new custom; we must ensure that doesn’t start with children.

Please share this video with as many people as you can – by doing so you will help raise awareness of the issue and let the government know that health is more important than profits.

Further information

• Find out more about the making of the film