State of Australia has introduced tough tobacco laws

Legislation has come into force in Australia means all cigarettes to be sold in identical packaging. This regulation is the first of its kind in the world, a constitutional challenge by the tobacco companies. Australian smokers now have to buy their tobacco products in standard package olive - brown featuring graphic images of diseased body parts. The law, which went into effect on Saturday, which aims to reduce any perceived glamor associated with smoking. "The challenge for us as a government to make it as attractive as possible," said Health Minister Tanya Plibersek on Friday, before the enactment of the law. "If we can prevent young people from taking it, the gift of their lifetime."
Law is considered the strictest regulations in the world, with all the bright colors and the logo removed. Cigarette brand names on the new packaging are all written in the same font and each package bears a large picture depicting a health condition that is associated with smoking. They include images of oral cancer or gangrene of the foot, as well as the skeletal image of a man who was dying.
British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco, Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco laws lose appeal in August. The move is being watched closely in the UK, Norway, New Zealand, Canada and India, where the government is considering the introduction of similar measures. Australia has seen its proportion of smokers fell from about 50 percent in 1950 to 15 percent today.