Cornwall’s health chiefs are asking for help to spot the first evidence of graphic new cigarette packets designed to put people off smoking.

New laws came into force across the UK in May gave cigarette manufacturers up to a year to switch to drab green packs, with bigger health warnings, designed to make smoking less appealing to children and young people. 

Six months later, the first packs are starting to be seen across the South West. So far none have been reported in Cornwall.

Social media is being used to report sightings of the new packaging and add to a ‘Track the Pack Map.’  Anyone spotting a pack can tweet an image and the location using the hashtag #trackthepack. To track the packs, tweet to @breathe2025.

Debra Lapthorne, South West Centre Director for Public Health England, said: ’In Cornwall 11.7% of 15-year-olds smoke and 6.9% smoke regularly. Adult smoking prevalence is 18.2%.

’We welcome the introduction of plan packaging and hope to see the numbers of young people taking up smoking drop in the months to come, thanks to the hard-hitting messages and unappealing new tobacco packaging.’

Lewis Jones, healthy lifestyles co-ordinator for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Promotion Service added: ’Standardised packaging will help to reduce uptake of smoking by young people across Cornwall and Isles of Scilly by making the products less appealing.’