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Study finds tobacco firms use gimmicks to subvert plain packaging
Tobacco companies have been accused of undermining plain packaging laws by introducing gimmicks that ensure their cigarettes stand out from rival products but do not breach regulations. A report in the British Medical Journal’s BMJ Open publication found that global tobacco companies adopted subtle marketing techniques to replace traditional cigarette branding, which was banned in the UK in 2016.
Researchers found that tobacco companies initially ramped up production before a one-year “sell-through” period, during which retailers were allowed to keep selling their remaining branded packs. This had the effect of keeping the older packs on sale for as long as possible, maximising brand exposure in the run-up to May 2017, when they could no longer be sold.
In the meantime, they came up with innovative ways to make plain-packaged products distinctive. Philip Morris International redesigned its premium Marlboro range, adding bevelled edges and a new “pro-seal” closing mechanism to packets, the researchers found. This made packs “appear more premium and recognisable compared to other brands”, the researchers claimed. The report also pointed to the terms introduced by tobacco companies to describe the filters on their cigarettes, such as “advanced” or “firm”.
The Labour MP Alex Cunningham, who was one of the key proponents of plain packaging laws, said: “No one should be surprised at the tobacco companies doing everything possible to protect their brands, undermine the law and grow their sales. Ministers must act to put an end to this practice.”
The report’s lead author, Dr Karen Evans-Reeves, said the tobacco industry was “engaged in activities that undermined and continue to undermine the legislation”.
“Major tobacco companies will always try to find a way to market their products,” she said. “Based on the number of innovations we found in this study, we would encourage all governments considering implementing plain packaging legislation to consider how tobacco companies have adapted to the legislation in other countries and where possible, close any remaining loopholes.”
Source: The Guardian, 20 October 2019
See also:
BMJ Open: Prospective longitudinal study of tobacco company adaptation to standardised packaging in the UK: identifying circumventions and closing loopholes. October 2019
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Cases of deadly lung condition caused by smoking have increased in Kent
The number of emergency admissions to hospital because of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has risen to its highest level since the start of the decade. COPD is an umbrella term for a group of illnesses that make it difficult to empty air out of the lungs.
COPD happens when the lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed and get progressively worse, meaning it is eventually fatal. In most cases it is caused by smoking, meaning it is a preventable condition.
The latest NHS figures reveal there were 3,467 emergency admissions to Kent hospitals because of the disease in 2017/18. That was up from 3,344 the year before and is the highest number recorded since at least 2010/11, when comparable figures were first published.
Dr Penny Woods, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “Smoking is one of the main causes of COPD and although smoking rates are declining, we’re seeing the devastating effects of high levels of smoking in the past. Some people who smoked in the 80s and 90s are only now being diagnosed with this condition.
Quitting smoking is also one of the best things you can do for your lung health, but we know that access to help to quit is patchy across the country.”
Source: Kent Live, 20 October 2019
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North East: South Shields cancer sufferer opens up about how years of smoking destroyed her life
Sue Mountain, from South Shields, describes how her life was turned upside down seven years ago when she was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, which affects the voice box, causing difficulty breathing and speaking.
The 53-year-old said: “I can still remember the doctors face and his words as he broke the news of my cancer diagnosis, but after that I blanked out. When I left the hospital I remember feeling guilty and devastated. I felt like I had been given a death sentence. It’s stupid, but you never think it’s going to happen to you.
Despite all of that, after everything I had been told, lighting a cigarette was still the first thing I did when I stepped outside the hospital doors.”
After overcoming the shock, Sue managed to stop smoking, but started again and her cancer returned twice. She quit for good in August 2017 after a more aggressive cancer diagnosis, and now recognises just how addictive smoking is.
Sue has opened up about her struggles as new analysis by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) reveals that smoking drives 35,000 people into poverty in the North East, including 9,000 children.
Source: Chronicle Live, 19 October 2019
See also:
Action on Smoking and Health: Smoking drives 35,000 into poverty
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Vapers see cheap life insurance going up in smoke
Insurance companies are starting to treat vaping the same as tobacco smoking when assessing premiums for life insurance and mortgage protection policies. Aviva and Zurich, two of the largest companies in the market, have confirmed they have changed their approach to e-cigarettes in the past year. Smokers typically have to pay up to twice as much as non-smokers for life insurance, because half of all smokers die from a smoking-related disease.
Zurich confirmed it had changed its approach to vaping after consultation with reinsurers. It said the approach was based on “some research pointing to a high frequency of dual use of e-cigarettes and normal cigarettes”.
Several insurers, including the AA, had previously classified users of e-cigarettes as non-smokers if they had not smoked tobacco in the previous year. Zurich used to charge e-cigarette users more than non-smokers but not as much as tobacco smokers.
John Geraghty, chief executive of LA Brokers, said he was not aware of any companies offering lower premiums for e-cigarette users any more. “Most life insurers ask applicants have they smoked cigarettes, cigars or pipe tobacco or used nicotine replacement products or e-cigarettes in the past 12 months,” he said. If the answer is yes, their premiums are loaded.
Source: The Sunday Times, 20 October 2019
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Erdogan says he will never allow vaping in Turkey
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday he will never allow e-cigarette companies to produce their products in Turkey, urging Turks to drink tea instead. Speaking at an event against smoking in Istanbul, Erdogan said he had ordered his Trade Minister "never" to allow e-cigarettes in Turkey and said that tobacco companies were "getting rich by poisoning" people.
Around 27% percent of Turkey's total population aged over 15 smoked cigarettes in 2016, according to World Health Organization data, down from around 31% in 2010, with males making up the majority of smokers. While vaping is not illegal in Turkey, purchasing or distributing e-cigarettes is. Despite this, many people procure e-cigarettes through online distributors.
In 2013, Erdogan’s government banned all advertisements, promotions and sponsorships of alcohol and tobacco products in Turkey. These products are frequently blurred out in television shows.
Source: British Asia News, 21 October 2019
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For more information call 020 7404 0242, email [email protected] or visit www.ash.org.uk
ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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