Sir, – The apologists for keeping brand advertising on packs of cigarettes must be getting desperate if they argue that it should be allowed because it doesn’t work (October 14th).
Smoking kills five times as many people as road accidents, overdoses, murder, suicide and HIV put together.
Smoking is the single biggest preventable cause of our two biggest killers, cancer and heart disease.
Ireland led the world in introducing smoke-free public spaces – against fierce opposition.
Having lost the lost the debate over the deadly effects of their product, Big Tobacco is now fighting the introduction of plain cigarette packaging, devoid of logos and branding.
Unless dead smokers are constantly replaced by new adolescent addicts, the habit will die out.
Minister for Health James Reilly deserves the fullest support in his efforts to reduce disease, death and disability by introducing plain packaging of tobacco products. – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY,
Cnoc an Stollaire,
Gaoth Dobhair, Co Donegal.