Nearly eight in ten teenagers in Britain think the government
should introduce standardised cigarette packaging such as that used in Australia according to a survey published as peers prepare cross-party moves to revive proposals shelved by David Cameron.
Most teenagers in Australia, where packs are already almost covered in graphic warnings, believe this makes people less likely to smoke and want to see such measures taken in the rest of the world, said the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The charity claimed health warnings on UK packs were "not up to the job" as it published results from its poll of 2000 13-18-year-olds in the UK and 500 in Australia, which last year became the first country to introduce tobacco packaging in a uniform brown colour along with the brand name and health warnings.
The coalition decided to put such measures on ice in Britain in July, saying ministers needed time to assess the impact such measures had had in Australia.
The BHF survey said just 36% of UK teenagers were deterred by current packs compared to 48% in Australia and that 77% of those quizzed in Britain thought the UK should have standardised packs. Australian teenagers supported the new packaging in their country (59%) and 66% wanted other countries to follow suit.
The charity said that "worryingly", 10% of British teenagers thought some cigarette brands were healthier than others - double the percentage of their Australian counterparts.
Simon Gillespie, its chief executive, said: "The message from our young people is loud and clear: current health warnings aren't up to the job and the UK government must step up to the mark and introduce standardised packs.
"Smoking kills 100,000 people in the UK every year and we simply can't wait any longer for legislation. Australia has led the way on standardised packs, the Scottish government has committed, and now the rest of the UK must act to protect future generations from a deadly habit."
Lib Dem Baroness Tyler, Conservative Lord McColl, crossbencher Baroness Finlay and Labour's Lord Faulkner will try to amend the Children and Families Bill at its Lords committee stage, which begins on Wednesday, so as to force the coalition into action. Finlay and Faulkner will also try to make it illegal for drivers to allow smoking in a private car when children are present.
Most teenagers in Australia, where packs are already almost covered in graphic warnings, believe this makes people less likely to smoke and want to see such measures taken in the rest of the world, said the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The charity claimed health warnings on UK packs were "not up to the job" as it published results from its poll of 2000 13-18-year-olds in the UK and 500 in Australia, which last year became the first country to introduce tobacco packaging in a uniform brown colour along with the brand name and health warnings.
The coalition decided to put such measures on ice in Britain in July, saying ministers needed time to assess the impact such measures had had in Australia.
The BHF survey said just 36% of UK teenagers were deterred by current packs compared to 48% in Australia and that 77% of those quizzed in Britain thought the UK should have standardised packs. Australian teenagers supported the new packaging in their country (59%) and 66% wanted other countries to follow suit.
The charity said that "worryingly", 10% of British teenagers thought some cigarette brands were healthier than others - double the percentage of their Australian counterparts.
Simon Gillespie, its chief executive, said: "The message from our young people is loud and clear: current health warnings aren't up to the job and the UK government must step up to the mark and introduce standardised packs.
"Smoking kills 100,000 people in the UK every year and we simply can't wait any longer for legislation. Australia has led the way on standardised packs, the Scottish government has committed, and now the rest of the UK must act to protect future generations from a deadly habit."
Lib Dem Baroness Tyler, Conservative Lord McColl, crossbencher Baroness Finlay and Labour's Lord Faulkner will try to amend the Children and Families Bill at its Lords committee stage, which begins on Wednesday, so as to force the coalition into action. Finlay and Faulkner will also try to make it illegal for drivers to allow smoking in a private car when children are present.
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