A new initiative could curb teen smoking by making it harder for Big Tobacco to turn our kids into addicts, but the powerful cigarette lobby is working overtime to stub out this life-saving plan. But if we act together in the next 48 hours, we can smoke them out and protect our children.

The Ministry of Health has opened a public consultation process seeking views on tobacco plain packaging, but lobbyists representing Marlboro, Camel and Benson & Hedges are throwing everything they have at our politicians to block the initiative.

We only have 48 hours left before the consultation closes. If enough of us support Health Secretary Andrew Lansley now, we can strengthen his hand to push the plan to make cigarettes uncool for teenagers by selling them in plain, non-branded packs. Go to the right of the page to send him an urgent message in support of plain packs -- and then tell your friends to join in and send a message too!

Talking points
Write a personalized message to Mr. Andrew Lansley in the box to the right. Here are some points to consider:

• I fully support efforts in the UK to require all tobacco products to be sold in plain packs.
• Research shows that selling plain packs one of the simplest ways to discourage young people from picking up the deadly habit.
• Plain packs have popular backing in the UK. Recent polling shows that 84% of UK adults believe that children should not be exposed to any tobacco marketing, and 68% support plain packaging vs 21% who are opposed.
• I call on you to stay firm against the Big Tobacco lobby and champion the plan to make cigarettes uncool for teenagers by selling them in plain, non-branded packs.

Remember to be polite and respectful.