Cigarettes

[tkpatience]

Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

I don't smoke, but recently there have been some changes in the Tobacco market regarding the naming of the products. Apparently, words like "light" and "ultra-light" are being replaced with "gold" and "silver". I think it's preposterous to think that by changing a few words that people are going to stop lighting up.

If the entire box with the exclusion of the brand and classification of the smokes was a surgeon general warning stating smoking cigarettes causes cancer in 72 point bold font, I still think a large volume of people would purchase tobacco products.

So how about it? Would you give up your longs, shorts , regulars, 100's, Newport, Misty, Capri, Marlboro, Pall Mall, Merit, Kool, Camel, Basic, Benson and Hedges, Doral, Parliment, Salem, etc... because you didn't see the words "light" or "ultra light" on box?

Our tax money well spent.

 

[john getty]

Over here they started putting pictures of the insides of smokers' lungs, throats, brains etc on packets of Richmonds. I guess they thought people would be so grossed out that they'd quit, not realizing that the inside of lungs, throats, brains etc are gross anyway and most people can't see the difference.

 

[Marquis De Sade]

E-Cigarette. Best thing. Ever.

Well not really. That'd probably be the wheel.

But still.

 

[goddess_nemesis]

People are still buying them. I work at a convenience store and our main retail is selling cigarettes. Many are switching over because they have to. After June 1st (I think it's June 1st), you can't sell Lights and Ultra-lights and whatever. So like Camel Lights are now Camel Blues, Doral Full Flavors are now Doral Reds, and people are still buying them. There's no difference, just a different name to get around the law that was signed by Obama last year.

 

[Marquis De Sade]

Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

I don't smoke, but recently there have been some changes in the Tobacco market regarding the naming of the products. Apparently, words like "light" and "ultra-light" are being replaced with "gold" and "silver". I think it's preposterous to think that by changing a few words that people are going to stop lighting up.

If the entire box with the exclusion of the brand and classification of the smokes was a surgeon general warning stating smoking cigarettes causes cancer in 72 point bold font, I still think a large volume of people would purchase tobacco products.

So how about it? Would you give up your longs, shorts , regulars, 100's, Newport, Misty, Capri, Marlboro, Pall Mall, Merit, Kool, Camel, Basic, Benson and Hedges, Doral, Parliment, Salem, etc... because you didn't see the words "light" or "ultra light" on box?

Our tax money well spent.

I agree and disagree with what I bolded. The ad people, the ones who come up with the wording in the first place, spend millions on the slightest little word change, logo design, etc. Every word of every ad has to be perfect so they DO light up. The words do matter.

I think it can be done, or at least lessen the sales numbers a little. However, the words "Gold" and "Silver" are the wrong words. In fact, I think these words might even drive sales UP because these words are normally associated with hierarchy, prize winning, placement, best, second best and so on. You are what you smoke and no one's going to want to smoke Bronze. Gold and Silver sound even MORE appealing.

Fail.

What about messages like, "Enjoy Your Wrinkles.", or, "Good Luck Getting A Girl To Make Out With You Now." Or, "Your Pet Hates You." I think those'd be more effective.

 

[Wildtime]

I used to smoke, but I came to a point in my life that it just wasn't worth it. No amount of anti-smoking initiatives will change someone's habits. It is up to the individual to quit smoking themselves, otherwise all attempts to force the person will fail. It is an addiction, and it requires a specific motivation to kick this habit. Words don't change a person's habits, personal investment does.

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[TropicThunder]

When they changed the names of cigarettes here, it wasn't to drive sales up, but because using the words "light" and "ultra light" was taken as an implication that the light brands are better for you.

 

[tkpatience]

People are still buying them. I work at a convenience store and our main retail is selling cigarettes. Many are switching over because they have to. After June 1st (I think it's June 1st), you can't sell Lights and Ultra-lights and whatever. So like Camel Lights are now Camel Blues, Doral Full Flavors are now Doral Reds, and people are still buying them. There's no difference, just a different name to get around the law that was signed by Obama last year.

We've been instructed to sell through the stock we have, though I know what you mean. They've stopped production on the lights and ultra-lights.

It's kinda funny because customers still refer to them as lights and ultra-lights either out of habit or laziness.

I agree and disagree with what I bolded. The ad people, the ones who come up with the wording in the first place, spend millions on the slightest little word change, logo design, etc. Every word of every ad has to be perfect so they DO light up. The words do matter.

I think it can be done, or at least lessen the sales numbers a little. However, the words "Gold" and "Silver" are the wrong words. In fact, I think these words might even drive sales UP because these words are normally associated with hierarchy, prize winning, placement, best, second best and so on. You are what you smoke and no one's going to want to smoke Bronze. Gold and Silver sound even MORE appealing.

Fail.

What about messages like, "Enjoy Your Wrinkles.", or, "Good Luck Getting A Girl To Make Out With You Now." Or, "Your Pet Hates You." I think those'd be more effective.

Actually a lot of the things like "gold" and "silver" are more reference to the color of the boxes. I think the association with the box colors are supposed to make the transition easier.

The current box colors that are usually associated with classification are:

Red= Full Flavor
Green= Menthol
Gold= Light
Silver= Ultra-Light

Any combination of these can be expressed to show a different type along with shorts and longs.

 

[TropicThunder]

Over here they started putting pictures of the insides of smokers' lungs, throats, brains etc on packets of Richmonds. I guess they thought people would be so grossed out that they'd quit, not realizing that the inside of lungs, throats, brains etc are gross anyway and most people can't see the difference.

They do that in Canada. And the pictures and warnings take up about half of the packaging. In BC specifically, you are not even allowed to have cigarettes or tobacco products on display. All shelves must be covered and you can't display even a sign that says "we sell tobacco products" and this includes chew, cigars, rolling papers and some types of lighters. They also banned selling single cigars or any tobacco product with less than 1.4g of tobbaco.

The provincial government is going all out. They want tobacco out of sight, out of mind.

 

[Cy/MiG]

If they really want to use a new ad campaign to get people to stop smoking then all they have to do is add the word 'low fat' or 'fat free' to the box and sales will plummet.

Everyone knows 'fat free' products suck.

 

[Marquis De Sade]

If they really want to use a new ad campaign to get people to stop smoking then all they have to do is add the word 'low fat' or 'fat free' to the box and sales will plummet.

Everyone knows 'fat free' products suck.

Facepalm. LOL. That's usually a lie too. To some extent. As far as the cigs go, they're doing it to try and make people realize that Lights doesn't mean a lower level of nicotine and are not healthier for you.

Dunno if it'll work though. They could just explain it.

Shrug.

 

[Leo tickles]

Fucking morons, I say.

Keep fucking with cigarettes and people will switch to something more impairing, and then, good luck with all of the murders and car accidents, robberies, etc etc etc etc.

 

[chicago]

Yeah, I think most of the regulations are to prevent 12 year olds from smoking and to keep the tobacco companies from misleading their customers by implying that "light" cigarettes are better for you than regular ones. Is a picture of lung cancer or bold font about emphysema going to stop people from smoking or suddenly turn them into thieving drunk drivers? lol No.

Now let me get a pack of Newport 100's please.

 

[Angel77]

May I have a pack of Marlboro Golds please? Yeah, I think I can do this.

Box, not soft pack. I hate soft packs.

 

[Cy/MiG]

I don't know why people still even smoke cigarettes these days.

It's both cheaper and cooler to light up a stogey like Mark Twain.

Upgrade to Cohiba's chumps!

 

[Bugman]

Tex Ritter on smoking.


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[starburstz91]

I don't think I would.

Then again, I'm not a huge smoker.