The ANF submitted to the consultation on Post Implementation Review (PIR) Tobacco Plain Packaging.
Their main claims are that it has had minimal significant public health benefits, that the economic impact on its member has been substantial, and that it is unfair that SMB should not have to carry most of the cost of this legislation. Although I will not comment on the last point, I feel the first two points are correct.
I data-mined tobacco sales from 2006 to 2014 and can find no evidence that plain packaging had any effect. It's a total blank. I agree with the ANF that the reduction in sales is mainly due to the higher unit costs of tobacco, although I would add that the drop in magazine sales is also having a significant effect on tobacco sales among their members.
I do not think this was a well-thought-out campaign by the government.
Here are some interesting links if you wish to check this out further:
