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PLAIN PACKAGING
Language Function: discussing issues - reading comprehension
pre-intermediate intermediate

Vocabulary /Topic:

plain cigarette packaging - product packaging - cigarettes smoking - law - collocations with PLAN

upper-intermediate advanced

focus on comprehension

Read the headlines and decide which of the two statements is true.

A. The British Government have decided to force tobacco companies to sell cigarettes in plain packets. B. The British Government have decided not to introduce plain cigarette packaging.

Cameron stubs out plan for plain cigarette packets

PLAIN PACKS DITCHED

Plans for plain cigarette packs scrapped

Plain cigarette packets plan abandoned by Cameron

Plain Cigarette Packets Shelved

David Cameron stubs out plan for cigarettes in plain packets

Coalition to dump cigarette plain packs

Plans for plain cigarette packs put on hold

follow-up question

Which words in the headlines suggest that the Government decided not to continue with a plan, either for a short term or permanently? 1

Plain Packaging

Read the article to nd out arguments for and against plain cigarette packaging. What is the possible reason why the British Government abandoned the plan?

Plain cigarette packets shelved

Senior doctors condemn the Governments decision not to go ahead with its plan to introduce plain cigarette packaging in the UK. They claim that plain packs would discourage children from taking up smoking and prevent many young people from entering a life-long addiction. The rst country to enforce plain packaging for cigarettes was Australia, where cigarettes have been sold in dull green packets with prominent health warnings since December 2012. The British Government explained that ministers needed more time to see whether smoking levels had fallen in Australia, and they still had an open mind on the issue. Many of the pro-smoking lobby warn that plain packaging would lead to an increase in black market fakes, as the packets would be easier to imitate. Since the introduction of the ban in Australia, shopkeepers have also been complaining that they are no longer able to sort the brands easily, or tell which is which unless closely inspected. On the other hand, research by the University of Stirling for the DoH concluded that plain pack colours have negative connotations, weaken attachment to brands and expose the reality of smoking. Plain packaging and prominent health warnings also remove any misconception that some brands are safer than others. Although 63% of Brits are in favour of adopting the plain packs, It is believed ministers baulked at the packaging move because it would be a distraction from their priorities of the economy, welfare reform and immigration.

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Plain Packaging

topic-related vocabulary bank

Here are some expressions and sentences on the discussed topic. Study them and then try to use them in Activity 4. prominent health warnings pro-smoking lobby anti-smoking lobby smoking-related conditions a complete ban on smoking in public nicotine-replacement therapy e-cigarettes

to quit smoking / to kick the habit to discourage sb from taking up smoking to prevent sb from smoking to reduce smoking uptake among children and young people to weaken attachment to brands to raise the minimum age for the purchase of cigarettes to restrict advertising of tobacco products

focus on talking

Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups.

Do you feel that measures such as the restrictions placed on advertising or the ban on smoking in public make a difference? Have the growing restrictions on smoking helped smokers kick the habit? Are the controls on smoking going too far? Do you nd it strange that people will buy something that says on it this will kill you? If you are a smoker, is there a reason why you smoke a particular brand? If you were a smoker would plain packets affect your habit? Would it matter if you were carrying around a plain packet packet of cigarettes instead of a branded one? Do you think that the branding enhances the coolness of smoking? Would you rather there were fewer places selling cigarettes? Should cigarettes be more expensive? Are there any other measures you would like to see introduced to reduce smoking uptake?

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