Majority of voters against plain tobacco packs, poll finds

Just over half of voters oppose the introduction of plain packaging, a new survey commissioned by think tank the Democracy Institute has found.

The poll of 1,050 English voters conducted earlier this month found that 54% of voters opposed the introduction and 68% feared it would encourage smuggling.

The poll also found that 34% of smokers admitted that plain packaging would make them more likely to buy their cigarettes on the illicit market.

Meanwhile 78% said it would make no difference to youth smoking rates and 11% said it would make young people more likely to smoke.