煙草在線據《雜貨店》報道編譯　　日本煙草國際公司計劃將提高公眾對政府強制煙草使用平裝的計劃影響的意識行動推入第二階段。

　　日本煙草國際公司的品牌包括絲刻和梅菲爾。該公司計劃從周日（9月30日）開始，開展一系列的全國媒體廣告，直至10月10日，這恰巧與政黨大會期的時間相一致。

　　這些廣告將以平裝對刺激非法貿易、阻礙小企業和減少國庫收取稅額的影響為核心。

　　日本煙草國際公司的英國常務董事馬丁·索斯蓋特警告說：“政府說，它打算著眼于讓中小型企業來領導我們走出經濟蕭條。但卷煙平裝的提議同樣威脅到了那些處于最脆弱時候企業的生存。”

　　他補充說：“煙草是社區商店的營業額和客流量的主要推動因素。因此，我們的行動將以解釋煙草產品非法貿易如何影響到零售商，以及這種情況可能會如何變得更糟糕等這些問題為核心。”

　　在政府關于實行卷煙平裝的意見咨詢在8月得出結論前，日本煙草國際公司在7月份發起了意識行動的第一階段。這次征詢公眾意見的結果預計將在今年晚些時候得出。

Japan: Tobacco Giant's Plain Packs Campaign Enters New Phase

　　Japan Tobacco International is set to launch the second phase of its campaign to increase public awareness of the impact of government plans to force tobacco into plain packaging.

　　The manufacturer, whose brands include Silk Cut and Mayfair, is set to run a series of national press advertising from this Sunday (30 September) until 10 October, coinciding with the political party conference season.

　　The ads will focus on the impact of plain packs on fuelling the illicit trade, harming small businesses and reducing the amount of money collected by the Exchequer.

　　"The government has said that it is looking to small and medium-sized businesses to lead us out of the recession," warned JTI UK managing director Martin Southgate. "But the plain packaging proposals threaten those same businesses at a time when they are most vulnerable."

　　He added: "Tobacco is a key driver of turnover and footfall for community stores. Our campaign will therefore focus on explaining the issues, how the illegal trade in tobacco products is already affecting retailers, and how it could get worse."

　　JTI launched the first phase of its campaign in July ahead of the conclusion of the government's consultation into plain packaging in August. The outcome of the consultation is expected later this year. Enditem