Plain Packaging For Alcohol Is On Its Way

Such an epic failure was Deborah Arnott's denial of a potential domino effect from plain packaging of tobacco, that I'm almost getting bored with ragging on it. Almost.

Too numerous to dig up yet again in detail, you can view some of the many ways in which she has already been embarrassed linked to this article.

Just to remind you, this is how her naive idiocy went:

"[...] The “domino theory” i.e. that once a measure has been applied to tobacco it will be applied to other products is patently false. The same argument was used against the ban on tobacco advertising, but 9 years after the tobacco ban in the UK, alcohol advertising is still permitted with no sign of it being prohibited."

A good joke is always worth seeing again, I say.

Anyway, via Snowdon's link to the list of those who responded to the House of Commons Health Select Committee's consultation on the government's alcohol strategy, we now have our first repeat Debs rubbisher.

Anti-alcohol champions, Balance North East, have previously humiliated Debs and her outdated grasp of reality via the medium of YouTube. They now do so in front of MPs.

9.4 Plain packaging and marketing bans:

9.4.1 Research shows children are drawn to brands with appealing packaging which is why packaging is used as a seductive marketing tool. Studies show that the younger people start drinking, the more likely they are to develop alcohol problems later in life.

Yep, I think that makes it clear that plain packaging of alcohol is squarely in their sights.

However, we believe that the greatest evidence for action on marketing currently lies elsewhere and we should start by introducing advertising restrictions similar to those found in France. We also believe this would receive greater public support.

I don't think you need me to translate that for you.

They love the idea of plain packaging for alcohol; fully support it; and will go for that as soon as the public have been softened up. A total advertising ban will do for now, though. Well, it's a 'start', isn't it?

You see, any self-enriching professional is hardly going to put themselves out of a job by not advocating for the 'next logical step' once their current goal is achieved, are they?

That way unemployment lies.