New research from the University of Nottingham published today shows that tobacco branding and packaging send misleading ‘smoke signals’ to young people and to adult smokers.
Jump to full article: Christian Today (uk), 2009-09-04
Intro: The research published in the European Journal of Public Health 2009 reveals that products bearing the word ‘smooth’ or using lighter coloured branding mislead people into thinking that these products are less harmful to their health.
Since 2002 it has been illegal for manufacturers to use trademarks, text or any sign to suggest that one tobacco product is less harmful than another. But these regulations have clearly failed to stop misleading information appearing on tobacco packaging.
The research comes at a time of mounting pressure to strip packs of misleading branding, leaving only the name of the brand in a standard font. In Australia the Government’s Preventative Health Task Force has advised the Government to “Eliminate promotion of tobacco products through design of packaging” as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce tobacco deaths.
In the UK, the Liberal Democrat front bench are to reintroduce an amendment to the Health Bill to introduce similar restrictions in the UK. The Health Bill is due to be debated on 12 October, the first day Parliament returns from its summer recess.
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