Cigarette firms’ plain packet challenge goes up in smoke

Cigarettes will be sold in plain packets with more health warnings after the tobacco industry’s last ditch attempt to stop restrictions on advertising failed at the High Court. Brands will have to remove ‘attractive’ advertising on packets as the government seeks to price and regulate cigarettes out of existence. Medical officials claim brands and advertising on cigarette packets ‘encourages smoking’ and generates a ‘vast financial burden’ in medical and care costs. The move comes in light of a World Health…