Council bosses’ smoking fears

Council leader Roger Stone and Cabinet member for health Cllr Ken Wyatt said they were disappointed that the proposal had been put on hold for further consultation.

Figures suggest that up to 950 Rotherham kids could take up smoking by the end of this school year.

Cllr Stone said: “How many more young children must take up smoking before the government decides to act?

“It is time for the Government to act because the longer the delay the more harm caused.”

The Government decided to delay the policy after publishing the results of its public consultation citing a need for more time to study the effect that similar legislation has had in Australia.

A year on, the councillors said protecting children’s health could not wait any longer and plain packaging would help to prevent more youngsters being attracted to taking up the habit.

Cllr Wyatt said: “Our doctors see first hand the devastating effects smoking has and too many impressionable young people are enticed by highly developed branding.

“The Government must not give in to the tobacco industry.”

Rotherham’s Director of Public Health John Radford said: “Smoking continues to be the biggest cause of mortality in this country.

“Smoking is a childhood addiction, not an adult choice, and we need to take steps to prevent the targeting of young people by the tobacco industry.”