A DELAY in introducing plain cigarette packing will put the health of city children at risk, warns Southampton’s health chief.
 

Councillor David Shields has criticised the Health Secretary’s move to postpone a decision on the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes, fearing it will be disastrous for preventing youngsters picking up the dangerous habit.
 

His concerns were mirrored by angry health campaigners who have accused the Government of bowing to pressure from the tobacco industry, at the cost of human life.
 

But British American Tobacco (BAT) have welcomed the “pragmatic” approach, believing that plain packaging will play “right into the hands” of counterfeiters.
 

It comes as Jeremy Hunt announced yesterday that he wants to see how a similar system in Australia works before deciding whether to go ahead with the plan.
 

The move was widely expected after the Queen’s Speech in May did not include any provision for legislation on the issue.
 

But it has still sparked anger among those trying to tackle smoking in a bid to reduce the number of premature deaths.
 

Councillor Shields, Southampton City Council’s Cabinet member for health, said: “I think the health of our children and the children of future generations could be put at risk by this move to delay the decision.
 

“All of the public health advice is that plain packaging will reduce the appeal to young people and the best thing to help people stop smoking is for them not to start in the first place.
 

“Having plain packaging was a sensible plan and what worries me is in whose interests is Jeremy Hunt working because delaying a decision is sending out the wrong message to young people.
 

“I think he should listen to the advice of the public health experts on this.”
 

The city council is already trying to cut the number of premature deaths in the city after it was revealed 13,000 people across Hampshire and Southampton died early from the four major killers, which includes lung disease.
 

As a result the Daily Echo launch-ed our Staying Alive campaign urging people to improve their diet and lifestyle and take up more exercise to avoid falling victim to preventable illnesses.
 

Figures revealed 150 each year in Southampton are diagnosed with lung cancer, with a rate of 56.9 per 100,000 – much higher than the England average.
 

Cancer Re-search UK, which as a research laboratory based at Southampton General Hospital, agree with Councillor Shields and argues that evidence already shows plain packaging stops children smoking.
 

However, BAT insists there is “no credible evidence” of this and remain “firmly opposed” to plain packaging.
 

A spokesman added: “We support reasonable and evidence-based regulation but an ill-thought through measure, such as plain packaging, brings with it the very real threat of serious, unintended consequences, such as a rise in the number of smokers willing to turn to the black market.”