15 Mar 2018

Plain cigarette packaging comes into force

From Morning Report, 6:14 am on 15 March 2018

Plain packaging for cigarettes and tobacco came into force yesterday but Otago University researchers say although it's a good start the government needs to "step up" to make the country smoke free by 2025. The new olive green packets have no branding and have much bigger warnings and some graphic images. Retailers have until June to shift old stock and move to the new packets. Otago University professor of public health and marketing, Janet Hoek, told RNZ reporter Sally Murphy the packets will make a big difference.