Don't become a target
"We don't smoke this shit. We just sell it. We reserve the right to smoke for the young, the poor, the black and the stupid." Dave Goerlitz, former model who appeared in Winston cigarette advertisements, recounting the comments of a tobacco industry executive.
Would you smoke just because the packet looked cool or your saw your favourite movie star light up? No, we know you're not that much of sucker. But the tobacco industry thinks you are and so in order to get around Australia's strict advertising regulations, they're resorting to sneaky tactics to continue to market to you.
Tobacco product packaging
Here are a couple of examples of tobacco products that are designed specifically to attract new customers, mainly young people.
Vogue Super Slims - The artwork on this pack incorporates a floral design to appeal to females. This is one example of many designs from this brand. View Image 1 View Image 2
Dunhill twin compartment ‘‘wallet'' packs - Once out of the cellophane, the cigarette pack folds apart. Separated by a thoughtfully perforated edge, it is ready to tear into two iPod-sized packs, one with 13 cigarettes and another with seven. Public health groups branded them ‘‘kiddie packs'', designed to appeal to price sensitive young people who can split the cost with their friends and then split the pack. View Image Check out the report titled 'The case for plain packaging of tobacco products (PDF 2MB)'.
Outraged? Check out this Canandian website that encourages young people to get involved to Change the rules about the packaging of tobacco products.
Point of sale 'power wall'
Cigarette displays remain a major advertising strategy for the tobacco industry. Below is an example of a ‘power wall' which you may have seen at your local convenience store.
Image courtesy of Quit Victoria
Fruit and confectionary flavours
To mask the unpleasant taste of tobacco, the industry developed flavoured cigarettes such as green apple, strawberry and lemon. The packaging of these products is also visually appealing to young consumers. View Image 1 View Image 2 View Image 3 View Image 4
So what does the tobacco industry say about flavoured cigarettes?
"We're very keenly aware that children should not smoke ... Our flavours are ones that have been designed and created for adults and tested on adults ." R.J. Reynolds Tobacco spokeswoman Ellen Wallace, 2004
What do young people say?
"Right now I'm smoking Camel Exotic Blends, Mandarin Mints ....They are almost like candy." School student discussing the attractions of confectionary flavoured cigarettes - as reported by (US) ABC News www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/print?id=1274643
Check out the fruit flavoured cigarettes fact sheet.
Stars light up
Movie stars lighting up on the big screen is one of the most powerful marketing strategies used by the tobacco industry to influence you to smoke.
Watch the YouTube clip ‘Scene Smoking' to understand why smoking in movies is way more glamorous than it is in real life.
Scene Smoking
Shows how the tobacco industry uses movies to promote their products.For more information check out smoking in movies section of this website.
From the tobacco companies themselves...
The fragile, developing self-image of the young person needs all the support and enhancement it can get. Smoking may appear to enhance that self-image in a variety of ways". R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
How does the tobacco industry ensure it keeps you hooked?
Tobacco companies keep you smoking
A news segment discusses the increased levels of nicotine in tobacco products.To learn more about how the tobacco industry promotes smoking to young people around the world check out the ‘How do you sell death' report.
Want to see some ads that attack the tobacco industry and highlight addiction, product manipulation and unethical marketing practices? Watch these television advertisments from the Norwegian Directorate for Health and Social Affairs.