There are new laws being considered in the UK that would prevent cigarette packages from being colorful and "glitzy."
This is one company's idea of what the packages could look like.
Australia has already enacted a similar law that will take place in 2012. "From July 2012, manufacturers would be required to drop all colour and branding logos from cigarette packets."
What are some of the positive points of these laws in the UK and Australia? Negative points?
Cigarettes is a business that will eventually be extinct as governments push their citizens out of this bad habit. They just need to take progressive steps towards it without destroying the industry too quickly, hence putting so many people out of jobs. People know what cigarettes are and their side effects, therefore their should not ever be any argument against making them unattractive and let the costumers progressively decide (with time) to cast them out of their life and/or culture.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the steps that are being taken. I believe that this marketing technique will lower the sales of cigarettes (specifically towards young kids) over the next few years. However, @HC, I don't believe that the cigarette industry will be completely depleted from our economies. Just in the United States alone, the revenues from the tax on cigarettes is a justifiable reason to keep the industry alive. However, I do believe that this will be a small stepping stone towards eliminating the glorified persona that advertisers and manufacturers have embellished over the last century, as well as a great way to educate the young and uneducated about the negative side-effects smoking can have on the human body.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this action because a lot of people die each year because of smoking. In addition, tobacco also causes different illness like heart attacks, pulmonary disease and Cancer. This habit is bad for the health of consumers and the people that are around them.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that the new labeling and packages will stop tobacco sales because frequent buyers will be embarrassed of having something like that in their hands and they will also be more aware of the consequences of smoking.
Nevertheless, there was a similar piece of news four years ago and I could speak with a manager of Altadis (Imperial Tobacco nowadays). A new labeling that was half of the package with big warnings was set four years ago in Spain. The company’s manager told me that sales weren’t decreased because people that are used to smoke were continuing doing it. She also told me that there were some changes in the age of the consumers and some movements from cigarettes to cigars.
So, I’m not sure of what would happen but I rather prefer a decrease in consumption.
I definitely agree with this action because it will help deter people from using cigarettes, but like we have read the tobacco companies will continue to come up with new ways to bypass the laws. Being able to do that is what tobacco has to do to keep its head above water, but the fact of the matter is the still prevalent market of Europe still nevertheless helps these companies continue to be profitable, while harming consumers around the world by creating addiction as well as cancer. Yet just because they are changing the package does not mean the consumer can't find different ways around getting the degrading package out of their hands and instead buy cigarette packages or holders instead.
ReplyDeleteI think this is absolutely great that this law is being enacted because I feel it'll have a huge impact on younger people who first want to try a cigarette. If they see the ugly images and the portrayals of what smoking could do to you, it definitely takes on an effect of personalization and I would hope most first-time tryers would think twice about trying that cigarette. Obviously for the mass amount of people who are already addicted, it probably won't affect them regardless because they'll still buy the cigarettes no matter what..even if the cost were to increase they would most likely still buy them. Also as we talked about in class this opens up a whole new market for a company to create cigarette covers so that consumers aren't forced to look at the horrible packaging and labels that the cigarette boxes will be required to have. All in all I think that this law will definitely be helpful, although there may not be immediate results I feel that future generations will definitely benefit (especially in their health) by having these laws in place. -Sarah T
ReplyDeleteI don't think this law will change anything. People don't smoke because the package design. They smoke because they enjoy a nicotine buzz. Laws like these always seem to sound good on paper but have very little real-world significance or impact. It's the 21st century, most smokers know that their habit is an unhealthy one. If people insist on making laws to try and stop smoking, they should put info on how to quit. This way, it won't be another warning that smokers are trained to ignore. Many smokers are discouraged to quit because they believe it will be impossible for them. There should be labels saying that quitting is easier than you think and this is the website you should go to in order to find more. People will be much more inclined to quit if they were told how. Rather, they are just told how bad it is to be a smoker. We need to stop stating the obvious warning and focus on why smokers don't want to quit.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that such efforts and preventions to be a good idea and a starting point. Although I recognize that many people that chose to smoke, as well as many addicts, will not be deterred to stop smoking, I feel that such measures may prevent others from smoking. By others I am referring to those that don’t usually smoke but more specifically teenagers and young adults. I feel that it is vey important to stop “glamorizing” and stop marketing cigarettes to be “the cool thing to do” because such things have a tremendous and negative effect on young people and even on consumers that don’t usually smoke but are intrigued or curious.
ReplyDeleteSome negative points to such measures would be that this doesn’t necessarily help those that already smoke or the ones that are already addicted to smoking. I feel that educating those that already have a bad habit, like smoking, is a more appropriate measure. Educating and providing them help and attainable ways to cope and leave their addiction is very important. I feel that measures like these as well as different marketing tactics in regards to cigarettes are all positive contributions in making sure that others fully realize the negative effects of smoking.
I believe that it is a good idea and i am glad that this will potentially detract people from getting persuaded because of successful advertising.I am sure that this will especially be beneficial for young adults whose attentions are easily caught by how a product looks. If cigarette boxes start looking dull and not very appealing this might be an influential deterrent.Hopefully having those vivid health warnings covering half of the front and back will remind everyone of the harms of nicotine and other ingredients in cigarettes.However, i realize that those who are already smokers, wont be very affected because they chose to smoke probably even when they are very aware of the risks. I think the previously mentioned is the biggest positive point to notice.Some negative points are that it somewhat violates companies liberties. Maybe it is not fair that the government is allowed to interfere so much. At the end of the day the adults are to make up their mind if they want to be consumers or not. Another negative aspect is that they might end up saving money by not having the expenses of the detailed advertising and they will resort to other promotion techniques that may rake up more consumers than ads do(i.e free samples etc).
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