English on cigarette packs from six non-Anglophone low- and middle-income countries

Smith, Katherine Clegg; Welding, Kevin; Kleb, Cerise; Washington, Carmen; Cohen, Joanna E.

doi:10.1007/s00038-018-1164-9

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“… 19 There needs to be careful consideration about the marketing found on cigarette packs since policy restrictions on other marketing avenues are increasing globally. 20 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Claims of Reduced Odor on Tobacco Packs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Erinoso

Welding

Smith

et al. 2021

Nicotine &Amp; Tobacco Research

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Introduction Cigarettes designed to have less smoke smell were developed by the tobacco industry to supposedly reduce negative qualities. Cigarettes with marketing claims communicating these designs have been sold in high-income countries and marketing of “less smoke smell” terms on cigarette packaging can promote cigarette use. It is unclear to what extent they have been marketed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods The Tobacco Pack Surveillance System (TPackSS) systemically collected tobacco packs available in 14 LMICs with high tobacco use between 2013-2017. We coded 4,354 packs for marketing appeals, including claims related to smoke smell. We describe “less smoke smell” and similar claims found on these packs and compare across country and tobacco manufacturers. Results Phrases communicating less smoke smell were present on packs purchased in nine of 14 LMICs, including Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, and Vietnam. The most commonly (74.1%) used terminology was “less smoke smell”, "LSS" or a combination of the two. Packs from Russia had the most prevalent use (11.8%) of such claims. Companies using these terms across 21 brands included Japan Tobacco International (JTI), British American Tobacco (BAT), Philip Morris International (PMI) and other smaller companies. JTI accounted for 70.9% of packs with such terms. Conclusion Some of the world’s largest tobacco companies are communicating less smoke smell on packs in LMICs. Less smoke smell and similar phrases on packaging should be prohibited because they can enhance the appeal of cigarettes. Implications Tobacco companies are using “less smoke smell” and similar phrases on cigarette packs in LMICs. These claims have the potential to increase the appeal of smoking and promote cigarette use. Countries should consider policies to restrict attractive labeling claims, in accordance with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 13 guidelines, which recommends restrictions on attractive design elements on tobacco packaging.

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“… 19 There needs to be careful consideration about the marketing found on cigarette packs since policy restrictions on other marketing avenues are increasing globally. 20 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Claims of Reduced Odor on Tobacco Packs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Erinoso

Welding

Smith

et al. 2021

Nicotine &Amp; Tobacco Research

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…Data have also been used to explore the different marketing appeals, (e.g. English language, sports imagery, organic/natural descriptors, reduced harm terminology) present on tobacco packs across the study countries [ 38 , 39 , 41 , 42 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, little is known about the extent to which cigarette packs sold in LMICs feature feminine imagery or appeals outside of pack shape and reduced harm claims. Only a small number of studies have examined marketing features present on cigarette packs sold in LMICs [38][39][40][41][42], and none to date has systematically explored the presence of feminine appeals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feminine Appeals on Cigarette Packs Sold in 14 Countries

Czaplicki

Welding

Cohen

et al. 2021

Int J Public Health

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Objective: Limited research has examined feminine marketing appeals on cigarette packs in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). We reviewed a systematically collected sample of cigarette packs sold across 14 LMICs in 2013 (Wave 1) and 2015–2017 (Wave 2).Methods: Packs in Wave 1 (n = 3,240) and Wave 2 (n = 2,336) were coded for feminine imagery and descriptors (flowers, fashion, women/girls, color “pink”). We examined trends in feminine appeals over time, including co-occurrence with other pack features (slim or lipstick shape, flavor, reduced harm, and reduced odor claims).Results: The proportion of unique feminine cigarette packs significantly decreased from 8.6% (n = 278) in Wave 1 to 5.9% (n = 137) in Wave 2 (p < 0.001). Among all feminine packs, flower-and fashion-related features were most common; a substantial proportion also used flavor and reduced odor appeals.Conclusion: While there was a notable presence of feminine packs, the decline observed may reflect global trends toward marketing gender-neutral cigarettes to women and a general contempt for using traditional femininity to market products directly to women. Plain packaging standards may reduce the influence of branding on smoking among women.

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“…color, pack shape, imagery on pack), TTCs target specific consumer groups 8 , associate their brand with core values held by young adults 9 , and influence perceptions of harm, appeal and expectations about the product 8 . Research finds similar appeals being used on cigarette packs sold in different countries, such as claims of less smoke smell 10 , feminine appeal 11 , the use of less harm descriptors such as ‘natural’ 12 , and the use of English text in non-Anglophone countries 13 . Vibrant colors and imagery of small spheres on packaging are often used on flavored and flavor capsule cigarette packs, which appeal to youth and are associated with smoking initiation 14 , 15 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shared perceptions of flavored cigarette pack design among young adults who smoke in Mexico and the Philippines

Grilo¹,

Brown²,

Cohen³

et al. 2023

Tob. Induc. Dis.

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INTRODUCTION Tobacco industry documents reveal companies’ knowledge of a similar young adult market across countries in terms of attitudes and lifestyle aspirations. Some tobacco companies, therefore, use similar marketing approaches across different jurisdictions. We examined young adults’ perceptions of flavored cigarette packs, including those containing flavor capsules, in Mexico and the Philippines. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of five focus groups held in Mexico and four in the Philippines with young adults who smoke (aged 18–24 years), separated by gender, in which participants interacted with cigarette packs purchased locally. Transcribed and translated data were thematically analyzed and compared between countries. RESULTS Three major themes were identified: 1) Flavor capsules cigarettes are recognizable via pack design through imagery on the pack that is understood to signify capsules; 2) Colors signal flavor and make the pack attractive; and 3) Young adults who smoke identify the target audience for these products as young people and those who are beginning to smoke. CONCLUSIONS Young adults who smoke in Mexico and the Philippines interpreted flavored cigarette pack design similarly and thought that young people are the main audience for these products. This suggests a successful marketing approach creating shared perceptions of flavored cigarette packs in different world regions. It is likely that similar tactics are used in other countries around the world. Therefore, jurisdictions might use evidence from other jurisdictions to support the implementation of evidence-based tobacco control policies. These findings also support the implementation of plain and standardized packaging and flavor bans that would also limit product innovation such as capsules.

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English on cigarette packs from six non-Anglophone low- and middle-income countries

Cited by 5 publications

References 38 publications

Claims of Reduced Odor on Tobacco Packs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Claims of Reduced Odor on Tobacco Packs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Feminine Appeals on Cigarette Packs Sold in 14 Countries

Shared perceptions of flavored cigarette pack design among young adults who smoke in Mexico and the Philippines

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