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July 7th, 2011:

Women more influenced by attractive tobacco packaging

Thursday 7 July 2011

Cancer Research UK Press Release

Women are more sensitive to tobacco packaging and more likely to be influenced by packet design than men according to new Cancer Research UK funded research published in the Australasian Marketing Journal.

Researchers from Stirling University examined smokers’ attitudes to cigarette packaging through eight focus groups in Glasgow, consisting of 54 smokers aged 18 to 35.

Smokers were asked about their attitudes to different packets. They were each designed to open either like a book, slide open sideways or made to resemble a lighter with a flip top. Men were generally not influenced by the different designs, with none indicating they would change their brand for the sake of the design.

Women were more positive than men with some women saying the book-opening packet was cool or would impress people. When shown long and narrow ‘perfume’ packets of super-slim cigarettes women were impressed, using terms like cute, cool, pretty, glamorous and sophisticated.

Also many of the women thought this packet was a sign the cigarettes were less harmful, with some commenting that “they don’t look as bad for you”.

Nearly all smokers associated coloured, plain packets (white, green, light blue, red) – that only had health warnings and no name, description or tar or nicotine levels – with cigarette strength. Red packs were seen as full strength, green as menthol, and light blue and white thought to be low or ultra low tar.

When shown four differently coloured plain packets (grey, beige, dark grey and dark brown) all groups disliked them. They were described as looking cheap, bland, dull, boring and unattractive. The lighter coloured packets were said to be more attractive than the darker ones. The lighter colours were seen to indicate less harmful cigarettes.

Although some smokers thought the dark grey was a negative colour – associating it with ash and death – it was the dark brown pack that was disliked the most. It was variously described as horrific, ugly and associated with excrement, dirt, mud, tar and rust.

Dr Crawford Moodie, lead researcher based at the University of Stirling, said: “It’s clear that smokers react to tobacco packaging in different ways and women appear to be particularly receptive to this silent salesman. Indeed, it was found that even after removing the branding from packaging, slim shaped packaging was still perceived quite positively by some women.

“With Cancer Research UK’s support we’re now looking at using this research as a basis for further research into the attitude of women smokers to tobacco packaging and how this is influenced.”

The UK government is expected to begin a public consultation on the future of tobacco packaging in late 2011. If the UK was to remove all marketing from tobacco packaging it would be second only to Australia.

The Australian government has announced that all tobacco must be sold in plain packaging from July 1, 2012 and that graphic health warnings will cover 75 per cent of the front and 90 per cent of the back of packs.

Jean King, Cancer Research UK’s director of tobacco control, said: “This research offers a revealing insight into the power of the cigarette packet. For too long the tobacco industry has been able to influence smokers’ perceptions through subtle marketing techniques.

“But wrapping tobacco in plain packets with prominent picture health warnings would help remove this influence. It’s important to remember that half of all long term smokers will die from the addiction so it’s vital we do all we can to help smokers to quit and stop young people from starting.”

ENDS http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/pressrelease/2011-07-07-women-influenced-by-attractive-tobacco-packaging

For media enquiries contact the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 3469 8300 or, out of hours, on 07050 264 059.

Reference

Moodie, C., & Ford, A. (2011). Young adult smokers’ perceptions of cigarette pack innovation, pack colour and plain packaging Australasian Marketing Journal (AMJ), 19 (3), 174-180 DOI:10.1016/j.ausmj.2011.05.003

Warning about the danger of tobacco

by World Health Organization

Download PDF : GTCR III Launch Bettcher Powerpoint

Download PDF : GTCR2011

YouTube and the internet policy vacuum on Web 2.0

ABSTRACT
Background The internet is an ideal forum for tobacco
marketing, as it is largely unregulated and there is no
global governing body for controlling content.
Nevertheless, tobacco companies deny advertising on
the internet.
Objective To assess the extent and nature of English
language videos available on the Web 2.0 domain
‘YouTube’ that contain tobacco brand images or words.
Methods The authors conducted a YouTube search
using five leading non-Chinese cigarette brands
worldwide. The themes and content of up to 40 of the
most viewed videos returned for each search were
analysed: a total of 163 videos.
Results A majority of the 163 tobacco brand-related
videos analysed (71.2%, 95% CI 63.9 to 77.7) had
pro-tobacco content, versus a small minority (3.7%)
having anti-tobacco content (95% CI 1.4 to 7.8). Most of
these videos contained tobacco brand content (70.6%),
the brand name in the title (71.2%) or smoking imagery
content (50.9%). One pro-smoking music video had been
viewed over 2 million times. The four most prominent
themes of the videos were celebrity/movies, sports,
music and ‘archive’, the first three of which represent
themes of interest to a youth audience.
Conclusions Pro-tobacco videos have a significant
presence on YouTube, consistent with indirect marketing
activity by tobacco companies or their proxies. Since
content may be removed from YouTube if it is found to
breach copyright or if it contains offensive material, there
is scope for the public and health organisations to
request the removal of pro-tobacco content containing
copyright or offensive material. Governments should also
consider implementing Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control requirements on the internet, to further
reduce such pro-tobacco content.

ABSTRACTBackground The internet is an ideal forum for tobaccomarketing, as it is largely unregulated and there is noglobal governing body for controlling content.Nevertheless, tobacco companies deny advertising onthe internet.Objective To assess the extent and nature of Englishlanguage videos available on the Web 2.0 domain‘YouTube’ that contain tobacco brand images or words.Methods The authors conducted a YouTube searchusing five leading non-Chinese cigarette brandsworldwide. The themes and content of up to 40 of themost viewed videos returned for each search wereanalysed: a total of 163 videos.Results A majority of the 163 tobacco brand-relatedvideos analysed (71.2%, 95% CI 63.9 to 77.7) hadpro-tobacco content, versus a small minority (3.7%)having anti-tobacco content (95% CI 1.4 to 7.8). Most ofthese videos contained tobacco brand content (70.6%),the brand name in the title (71.2%) or smoking imagerycontent (50.9%). One pro-smoking music video had beenviewed over 2 million times. The four most prominentthemes of the videos were celebrity/movies, sports,music and ‘archive’, the first three of which representthemes of interest to a youth audience.Conclusions Pro-tobacco videos have a significantpresence on YouTube, consistent with indirect marketingactivity by tobacco companies or their proxies. Sincecontent may be removed from YouTube if it is found tobreach copyright or if it contains offensive material, thereis scope for the public and health organisations torequest the removal of pro-tobacco content containingcopyright or offensive material. Governments should alsoconsider implementing Framework Convention onTobacco Control requirements on the internet, to furtherreduce such pro-tobacco content.

Read more, download PDF : YouTube TC 10 10

Tobacco Control Health Organization Framework Convention on undermining article 13 of the global World

ABSTRACT
Background The World Health Organization Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) bans all
forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and
sponsorship. The comprehensiveness of this ban has yet
to be tested by online social networking media such as
Facebook. In this paper, the activities of employees of
the transnational tobacco company, British American
Tobacco, (BAT) on Facebook and the type of content
associated with two globally popular BAT brands (Dunhill
and Lucky Strike) are mapped.
Methods BAT employees on Facebook were identified
and then the term ‘British American Tobacco’ was
searched for in the Facebook search engine and results
recorded, including titles, descriptions, names and the
number of Facebook participants involved for each
search result. To further detail any potential promotional
activities, a search for two of BAT’s global brands,
‘Dunhill’ and ‘Lucky Strike’, was conducted.
Results Each of the 3 search terms generated more
than 500 items across a variety of Facebook subsections.
Discussion Some BAT employees are energetically
promoting BAT and BAT brands on Facebook through
joining and administrating groups, joining pages as fans
and posting photographs of BAT events, products and
promotional items. BAT employees undertaking these
actions are from countries that have ratified the WHO
FCTC, which requires signatories to ban all forms of
tobacco advertising, including online and crossborder
exposure from countries that are not enforcing advertising
restrictions. The results of the present research could be
used to test the comprehensiveness of the advertising ban
by requesting that governments mandate the removal of
this promotional material from Facebook.

ABSTRACTBackground The World Health Organization FrameworkConvention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) bans allforms of tobacco advertising, promotion andsponsorship. The comprehensiveness of this ban has yetto be tested by online social networking media such asFacebook. In this paper, the activities of employees ofthe transnational tobacco company, British AmericanTobacco, (BAT) on Facebook and the type of contentassociated with two globally popular BAT brands (Dunhilland Lucky Strike) are mapped.Methods BAT employees on Facebook were identifiedand then the term ‘British American Tobacco’ wassearched for in the Facebook search engine and resultsrecorded, including titles, descriptions, names and thenumber of Facebook participants involved for eachsearch result. To further detail any potential promotionalactivities, a search for two of BAT’s global brands,‘Dunhill’ and ‘Lucky Strike’, was conducted.Results Each of the 3 search terms generated morethan 500 items across a variety of Facebook subsections.Discussion Some BAT employees are energeticallypromoting BAT and BAT brands on Facebook throughjoining and administrating groups, joining pages as fansand posting photographs of BAT events, products andpromotional items. BAT employees undertaking theseactions are from countries that have ratified the WHOFCTC, which requires signatories to ban all forms oftobacco advertising, including online and crossborderexposure from countries that are not enforcing advertisingrestrictions. The results of the present research could beused to test the comprehensiveness of the advertising banby requesting that governments mandate the removal ofthis promotional material from Facebook.

Read more, download PDF : Facebook BAT on TC 10 04

Tobacco group commends Palace move vs higher taxes

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/225401/business/tobacco-group-commends-palace-move-vs-higher-taxes

The Palace is making the right move by rejecting new or higher taxes in the immediate term, which could make an impact on the tobacco industry, the Philippine Tobacco Growers Association Inc. (PTGA) said Tuesday.

The PTGA was reacting to President Benigno Aquino III’s rejection of the proposal by the New York-based Standard and Poor’s to boost the government’s revenue intake as a prelude to a credit upgrade.

PTGA president Winston Uy noted that Philippine tobacco and alcohol commodities are already some of the most heavily taxed products in the world.

“As experienced in other countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong, their governments just lose revenue by over-taxing alcohol and cigarettes as counterfeit and smuggled products dramatically increase in number as a result,” Uy said.

Uy added that an increase in excise tax rates will negatively affect the livelihood of some 50,000 tobacco farmers located principally in Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, and Isabela.

In March, however, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said raising sin taxes shoots two birds with one stone: monopoly and tax efficiency. — PE/VS, GMA News

Roxon introduces plain packaging bill

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/06/3262578.htm?section=justin

The tobacco industry is warning of several legal challenges to the plain packaging legislation

The tobacco industry is warning of several legal challenges to the plain packaging legislation

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has introduced plain packaging legislation for cigarettes into Parliament, saying the Government will defend it from any legal threats.

The legislation will force cigarettes to be sold in plain packs with a large, graphic health warning, while a second bill will remove company trademarks from the packs.

Ms Roxon told Parliament the legislation will mean Australia has the toughest tobacco promotion laws in the world.

“We’re taking this action because tobacco is not like any other legal product. When used as intended it is lethal,” she said.

“Despite Australia’s success in reducing smoking rates over recent decades, tobacco remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease among Australians, killing over 15,000 Australians each and every year.”

The tobacco industry is warning of several legal challenges to the legislation in a move it says could cost the Government billions of dollars.

Tobacco giant Philip Morris is among the companies taking legal action over the laws.

It is accusing the Government of breaching a bilateral investment treaty with Hong Kong, where the company is based.

Ms Roxon says the Government is determined to fight any legal challenges.

“Introducing this legislation today shows that the big tobacco’s intimidation tactics have not worked,” she said.

“Our Government won’t be deterred from taking this action and we believe that we are on very strong ground, although this is a world first taking this action, and are determined to proceed with it.”

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has said the Coalition will not oppose the legislation but may attempt to make amendments to ensure smoking rates really do drop.

Last night Liberal backbencher Alex Hawke told the Parliament he is against it because it is a nanny state response to an everyday problem.

Ms Roxon says the Government is prepared to consider amendments from the Opposition as long as they do not change the requirement that tobacco be sold in plain packs.

“I’m very confident that we have very broad support within the Parliament for this, of course it’s true that the Liberal party were dragged kicking and screaming but they have announced that they will support this legislation,” she said.

The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia on Exposure Draft Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011

Download (PDF, 37KB)

Japan eyes tobacco tax hike for reconstruction

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/07/us-japan-tobacco-tax-idUSTRE76604F
20110707
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/07/us-japan-tobacco-tax-idUSTRE76604F
20110707
Tobacco tax hike to pay for rebuilding Country