THE FIRST cigarettes on sale in new standardised packaging have been spotted in Barnsley.
New laws that came in to force in May gave manufacturers up to a year to switch to drab green packs with bigger health warnings, designed to make smoking less appealing to children and young people.
But just three months in the first packs are starting to be seen here in Barnsley.
Coun Jim Andrews, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health said: ‘‘Two thirds of smokers start smoking before the age of 18. There’s a good body of evidence that standardised packs are less attractive, particularly to young people.
“Plain packaging also makes health warnings more effective and removes the ability of manufacturers to mislead consumers about the effects of smoking on their health
“Creating a smoke-free generation is one of our health priorities so the sight of the plain packs in the borough brings us closer to our goal.”
