Smoking in the UK: Plain Packaging and the Menthol Ban

On 20 May 2016, the UK’s Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 came into force, following a transition period [citation:2][citation:7]. The goal was to reduce the appeal of tobacco products, particularly to young people, by removing all promotional features [citation:2].

• 📦 External packaging: Only Pantone 448C (drab dark brown) with a matt finish is permitted. The packaging must be cuboid, smooth, and flat with no irregularities [citation:2].
• 🚬 Individual cigarettes: The cigarette paper, filter, and casing must be plain white with a matt finish — only the tip can imitate cork colour [citation:2].
• 📝 Permitted text: Brand name, variant name, quantity, producer details, barcode, and the UK duty-paid mark are allowed — but must be in a standardised font and format [citation:2].
• 🔇 No sensory gimmicks: Packaging cannot make noise, contain perfumes, or change after sale (no heat-activated inks, fluorescent inks, or removable tabs) [citation:2].
• 📏 Minimum sizes: Cigarette packs must contain at least 20 cigarettes; hand-rolling tobacco packs must contain at least 30g [citation:2][citation:7].

In May 2020, the UK banned menthol as a “characterising flavour” in cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco [citation:1][citation:3]. The policy aimed to reduce smoking initiation among youth (who disproportionately prefer menthol) and to encourage cessation among adult menthol smokers.

• 📉 Pre-ban prevalence: Before May 2020, approximately 12.8% of adults who smoked used menthol cigarettes [citation:1].
• 📊 Post-ban drop: After the ban, the proportion fell to 6.3% — a statistically significant reduction (AOR 0.46, 95% CI: 0.30–0.69) [citation:1].
• 🚭 Quit success: Among pre-ban menthol smokers, 20.1% successfully quit smoking post-ban, compared to 14.2% of non-menthol smokers — although the confidence interval was wide [citation:1].
• 🔄 Switching behaviour: Many menthol smokers did not quit — they simply switched to non-menthol cigarettes or found other ways to get menthol [citation:1].

Despite the ban, approximately one million adults in Great Britain continued smoking menthol-flavoured cigarettes as of 2023 — about one in seven smokers [citation:5][citation:10]. The primary reason? The ban only prohibited factory-made menthol cigarettes. It did NOT ban:

• 🧪 Menthol accessories: Flavoured drops, filter balls, crush cards, and mentholated rolling papers remain completely legal [citation:1][citation:3].
• 🚬 Roll-Your-Own (RYO) with accessories: Among menthol smokers, predominant RYO use increased from 49.6% in October 2020 to 61.9% by June 2022 [citation:3].
• 🏪 ‘Menthol-suggestive’ packaging: Some manufacturers removed the word “menthol” but kept green colours and cool imagery — exploiting the “characterising flavour” definition [citation:5].
• 📦 Legal alternatives: Many smokers simply add a menthol crush ball (purchased separately) to a non-menthol cigarette — perfectly legal [citation:1].

On 5 November 2024, the UK government introduced the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Parliament — described as “the most significant public health intervention in a generation” [citation:4]. The bill is currently making its way through Parliament and has completed committee stage in the House of Lords [citation:9]. Key provisions include:

• 🧒 Smoke-free generation: Anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be able to be legally sold tobacco products. The age of sale increases by one year every year [citation:4].
• 🚭 Strengthened outdoor smoking bans: Extending smoke-free laws to certain outdoor settings (hospital grounds, playgrounds, school grounds) to reduce passive smoking exposure, particularly for children [citation:4].
• 📦 Vape regulation: Restricting vape branding, promotion, and advertising targeted at children. Introducing a licensing scheme for tobacco, vape, and nicotine product retailers [citation:4].
• ⚖️ Enforcement: Strengthening enforcement activity to ensure compliance with the above measures [citation:4].

Canada implemented its own plain packaging law in 2019 and a menthol ban in 2017 (provincially phased, then federally). The UK experience offers several insights:

• ⚠️ Loopholes matter: The UK’s failure to ban menthol accessories (drops, crush cards, flavoured filters) allowed the flavour to survive. Canada’s menthol ban is stricter — it prohibits any menthol or mint flavour in tobacco products, including accessories. However, native cigarettes from First Nations reserves remain exempt [citation:3].
• 📦 Plain packaging alone isn’t enough: Both the UK and Canada have plain packaging, but cigarette consumption has not fallen to zero. Smokers adapt by switching to cheaper sources — in Canada, that’s native cigarettes at $29-35/carton [citation:8].
• 🧒 Generational bans are coming: New Zealand tried a generational ban (then repealed it); the UK is now pursuing one; Canada has not yet adopted this approach. If the UK’s bill passes, it will be closely watched by Canadian policymakers [citation:4].

The UK’s menthol ban covers all tobacco products sold in Great Britain — but it does not apply to products manufactured outside UK jurisdiction. In practice, the ban has been effective at reducing menthol availability in legitimate shops.

• 🇬🇧 UK situation: Menthol is effectively banned from legal retail channels. However, smokers can still buy menthol accessories legally [citation:1]. Illicit menthol cigarettes exist but are not widespread [citation:5].
• 🇨🇦 Canadian situation: Menthol is banned in commercial cigarettes. However, native cigarettes (like Canadian Menthol, Playfare Menthol, Pop N Smoke) remain legally available from First Nations manufacturers and retailers like Cigstore.ca [citation:3].
• 📦 The packaging irony: In the UK, all cigarettes — menthol or not — are sold in identical Pantone 448C drab brown packs. In Canada, native cigarettes can still use full-colour branded packaging, creating a visual advantage [citation:2].