Study Finds Plain Tobacco Packs Discourage Teen Smoking

According to a new study presented at an international conference in Sydney, Australia, plain packaging of tobacco may discourage teens from smoking.
 

Preliminary findings from focus group interviews with 14 to 15 year-olds in Auckland, New Zealand, show that plain packs increase attention to the graphic warnings; increase overall perceptions of smoking harm; and reduce the social appeal of smoking.

"This suggests that the combination of graphic warning labels and plain cigarette packaging would send a clear and consistent message about the harm and unacceptability of cigarette smoking and therefore, has the potential to further reduce smoking uptake among adolescents,” University of Auckland lead author Lisa Webb said about their research.