Removing branding from cigarette packaging? In my experience nearly as ineffective as putting health warnings and pictures of nasty ailments on the side of a packet. Most of the smokers I know switch off to this stuff – an almost ‘it won’t happen to me’ kind of attitude?
But interestingly enough campaigners believe putting them in plain packets will make smoking less appealing. I have to say, branding did almost add to the ‘cool’ factor when I smoked. You were less likely to band about your cheap nasty packet when a gold, well composed Marlboro pack graced the table.
Don’t get me wrong though, I’m all for discouraging smoking, but surely, making cigarettes ‘under counter’ purchases and almost an anti brand item will only make smoking more attractive? Isn’t it that you always want what your told you cannot have. And, if you make something naughty or dangerous it just adds to the appeal?
Anyway, we could be looking at the end of another era for the tabacco industry, and in the same way we kissed goodbye to the advertising in 2002 we could be looking at the end of branding too. Maybe someone will design pack wraps that you can buy to jazz up a pack. Or maybe the cigarette holder will make a comeback? Who knows, but if they do bring it in it will be interesting to see if a lack of branding does contribute to a fall in smokers in the UK.
