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06-06-2019, 12:21
Visit The Pub Curmudgeon site (http://pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2019/06/sugary-slope.html)
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y4tNaYWa5Vo/XPkCv_BRcqI/AAAAAAAAGvU/mCAHD29cqR8wFLJdcuhYItqG4pDAIKJ8gCLcBGAs/s200/plain-packaging-crisps.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y4tNaYWa5Vo/XPkCv_BRcqI/AAAAAAAAGvU/mCAHD29cqR8wFLJdcuhYItqG4pDAIKJ8gCLcBGAs/s1600/plain-packaging-crisps.jpg)
Earlier this week, the Institute for Public Policy Research published a report proposing that, to combat obesity, the plain packaging currently required for tobacco should be extended to crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7100797/Sweets-fizzy-drinks-sold-cigarette-style-plain-packaging.html). There’s little comment I can make that hasn’t already been said: it is filleted here (https://velvetgloveironfist.blogspot.com/2019/06/plain-packaging-for-food-part-94.html) with his usual aplomb by Christopher Snowdon. Realistically, it isn’t going to happen this year or next, but the idea is now well and truly within the “Overton window” of the acceptable range of public debate.
It underlines all too clearly that the claims that the draconian regulation of tobacco was a special case that would never be extended to other areas were patently false. It is perhaps a little surprising that snacks and soft drinks are ahead of alcohol in the queue, but that will come in time as surely as night follows day.
Presumably this was have to be accompanied by a comprehensive ban on advertising and promotion. This would have the effect of ossifying the market and preventing any innovation or new product introductions. People’s choice of product would depend on word of mouth and folk memory, as it does now with tobacco products. It would be completely impossible now to introduce a new legal cigarette brand. This would effectively leave the market in the hands of large, established players.
The point of plain packaging for tobacco was supposedly to “denormalise” its consumption. But if a whole raft of other food and drink products are also put in plain packaging, that effect largly disappears, as plain packaging becomes the norm for anything remotely enjoyable. They don’t seem to have thought that one through.
More... (http://pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2019/06/sugary-slope.html)
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y4tNaYWa5Vo/XPkCv_BRcqI/AAAAAAAAGvU/mCAHD29cqR8wFLJdcuhYItqG4pDAIKJ8gCLcBGAs/s200/plain-packaging-crisps.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y4tNaYWa5Vo/XPkCv_BRcqI/AAAAAAAAGvU/mCAHD29cqR8wFLJdcuhYItqG4pDAIKJ8gCLcBGAs/s1600/plain-packaging-crisps.jpg)
Earlier this week, the Institute for Public Policy Research published a report proposing that, to combat obesity, the plain packaging currently required for tobacco should be extended to crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7100797/Sweets-fizzy-drinks-sold-cigarette-style-plain-packaging.html). There’s little comment I can make that hasn’t already been said: it is filleted here (https://velvetgloveironfist.blogspot.com/2019/06/plain-packaging-for-food-part-94.html) with his usual aplomb by Christopher Snowdon. Realistically, it isn’t going to happen this year or next, but the idea is now well and truly within the “Overton window” of the acceptable range of public debate.
It underlines all too clearly that the claims that the draconian regulation of tobacco was a special case that would never be extended to other areas were patently false. It is perhaps a little surprising that snacks and soft drinks are ahead of alcohol in the queue, but that will come in time as surely as night follows day.
Presumably this was have to be accompanied by a comprehensive ban on advertising and promotion. This would have the effect of ossifying the market and preventing any innovation or new product introductions. People’s choice of product would depend on word of mouth and folk memory, as it does now with tobacco products. It would be completely impossible now to introduce a new legal cigarette brand. This would effectively leave the market in the hands of large, established players.
The point of plain packaging for tobacco was supposedly to “denormalise” its consumption. But if a whole raft of other food and drink products are also put in plain packaging, that effect largly disappears, as plain packaging becomes the norm for anything remotely enjoyable. They don’t seem to have thought that one through.
More... (http://pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2019/06/sugary-slope.html)