So Will This Help Solve The Problem?

[youngmafbog]

http://news.sky.com/story/1174669/david-cameron-u-turn-over-cigarette-packaging


Seems very topical this morning, so will this help the root cause, ie young people starting?

[DrFilth]

will be a big boost for the bootleggers

[ChillDoubt]

Make the packets coffin-shaped and it'll be a start.

Re-brand them as TumourTubes, RIP or DeathSticks.

Now we're talking!

[andy-hughes]

The amount of money devoted to branding and advertising by any company must, by definition, be seen as cost-effective, because otherwise it would cease to happen.

Ergo, branding and packaging must be a factor in consumer choice in certain products.

It does not always apply - sugar for example is always packaged in a bland format because sugar is sugar is sugar, so dressing it up would not encurage customers to select one brand over another.

But cigarette branding is clear and obvious, so it logically follows that removing that branding and neutralising the impact of visual appeal would go some way towards reducing the impulse to buy cigarettes.

It is by no means that only factor of course, but anything that helps reduce sales of a product that, if used for its intended lawful purpose can kill you, has to be a good thing.

[patsyann]

From what I have seen a lot of the youngsters do their own roll ups. Cheaper and they make the tobacco and whatever else may also go into them go a long way as they are thin roll ups usually. Will tobacco also get a plain packaging.?

[dunnitall]

Usually when youngsters have their first ciggie often given to them by a mate, they will become hooked. Doesn't matter what the packaging looks like, it's what's inside and the affect it has. Would be the same for all drugs, once you're hooked that's it, packaging is the last thing they think of. Ever heard of a smoker buying the product just because the packet looks attractive?

[youngmafbog]

I'm pretty sure you are not hooked on 1 ciggie, apart from the fact it usually makes most people a bit ill.

People are influenced by packaging especially if something is dressed up to look flashy or 'cool' or by association (eg motor racing). Whether or not they would be influenced in the first place is really my question.

[dunnitall]

My opinion is that they wouldn't be influenced by packaging in the first instance, it's what the contents do that they're bothered about I feel.

[LazyGun]

I do not think the packaging in itself encourages people, especially kids, to smoke, but it does create a brand, and an associated image. I know when I first started smoking all those years ago, after initially smoking Players No6 I moved to John Player Specials, because of the flash packaging and the high visibility of JPS via Grand Prix.

So branding and image is important to cigarette companies, otherwise they would not spend the multimillions per year on it that they do. And all that flash packaging adds up to quite a bright and shiny display area in the shops. We should do what the Aussies have done - plain packaging, muted colours, very graphic and very visible public health warnings and examples.

[mikey4444]

Yet another u-turn by Dave...you could be forgiven for thinking that an election was close, couldn't you ?

[tonyav]

It's a U turn on a U turn.

[gingejbee]

The interesting question is....why do some youngsters start smoking and others don't?
When I was growing up, both parents smoked...but I've never even touched a lit cigarette in my life. And I don't know why!

[vulcan42]

A cigarette packet must have a name on and an otherwise plain white packet looks quite attractive, more likely to encourage smokers. I don't know many smokers these days but those I do discard the packets with cancer pictures on and use a cigarette case. Anyway our government are more concerned with the revenue then stopping people from smoking.

[LazyGun]

@jinej You are right, that is an interesting question. In my family, both my parents smoked, at least initially, and I started smoking in my early teen years. My brother though- same background and environment, similar schools etc but he never started smoking and has never smoked at all. It does seem slightly odd, on the surface :)