New cigarette packaging regulations not convincing to smokers
originally published in the Press
On Feb. 7, all cigarette packs are going to have the same design.
The new regulations restrict cigarette and tobacco packaging. There can be no logos, no colors other than the dark brown that was chosen because it was deemed the least attractive by market researchers, and a standard font.
The size and appearance of the cigarettes will be regulated as well, effecting super-slim brands and the look of the filters.
Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society, told Global that these changes with have impact on future generations.
This measure is going to have an important difference,” said Cunningham.
“We will have kids who will grow up not exposed to branded packages.”
Not everyone is as convinced that the change in packaging will make a difference for current smokers.
SAIT student, Alastair Goodfellow said that he thought it wasn’t going to make a difference but he understood where the idea came from.
“The packaging could be really eye-catching, like a rainbow and kids would be into that,” he said.
“But if somebody wants to smoke, they’re going to smoke and they won’t stop until they want to stop.”
Alex Chernov, another SAIT student, agreed.
“The new packs might make it harder to choose but it’s not going to make a real difference.”
Goodfellow said that surface changes aren’t useful for people who already smoke.
“It’s an addiction, and you can’t force someone to quit if they don’t want to.”
Beverly Cale, an accountant that works in downtown Calgary, said that there isn’t enough support for people quitting, and much of what’s there is inaccessible.
“These programs are so expensive, it’s cheaper to just keep smoking.”
She also repeated the same ideas as Goodfellow and Chernov.
“Nobody’s going to quit because the packaging is ugly.”
Alberta Health Services does have services to help people quit, and they point to several apps to assist those who want to quit.
There is general information about quitting smoking on the Alberta Health website, at www.albertaquits.ca, or 1-866-710-7848.
The new regulations went into effect for manufacturers on Nov. 9, 2019.
Retailers were given until Feb. 7, 2020 to sell their old stock, but after that date, all cigarettes sold in Canada have to be in the plain packaging.
Several other countries have enacted similar regulations, including the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore.
Many more countries have started the process of switching to plain packaging.