Today is the fifth anniversary of the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco in Australia. Don’t expect much in the … Continue reading “Plain packaging in Australia, 5 years on: We told you so”

‘Until 1914’, wrote the historian A.J.P. Taylor, ‘a sensible, law-abiding Englishmen could pass through life and hardly notice the existence … Continue reading “The Nanny State Index – whatever happened to ‘liberal Britain’”

Plain packaging has arrived. As of May this year, all cigarette packets must be standardised, with the same murky green … Continue reading “Economic theory – and common sense – suggest that plain cigarette packaging won’t work”

Last night we learned that the government plans to change the law to ensure that cigarettes are sold in plain … Continue reading “Plain packaging of tobacco will simply boost the black market”

Plain packaging for tobacco appears to have been rejected by the UK’s Coalition government, just as it was rejected by … Continue reading “Ireland, plain packaging and cognitive dissonance”

The long-awaited UK consultation on plain packaging was announced by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley in April and will end next … Continue reading “Why the plain packaging consultation is deeply flawed”

Yesterday saw the US Chamber of Commerce, the TransAtlantic Business Dialogue, the Emergency Committee for American Trade, the National Association … Continue reading “Plain packaging laws undermine intellectual property”