In present days adult smokers will have to memorize new names of their favorite cigarettes, while asking them at tobacco stores. The changes in cigarette names should be made by all cigarette producers in order to correspond to the recent rules of U.S. Food and Drug Administration that will come into force on June 22.
In accordance with the new regulations, names of cigarettes brands have to remove such terms as “light,” “ultra light” “mild,” or “low-tar,” as cigarette consumers are disoriented thinking that cigarettes with these names are less dangerous than “full-flavor” cigarettes. Thus, tobacco manufacturers are changing the names and stress the colors in the names of fags and also on their packs.
For instance, such brand names as Marlboro Menthol Mild and Marlboro Ultra Lights should be renamed to Marlboro Menthol Blue and Marlboro Silver.
According to the spokesman of Philip Morris one of the leading U.S. tobacco company, they have already realized more than 100 modifications in packaging and brand names so that to correspond to the recent FDA regulation. Moreover new packs of all cigarettes brand produced by Philip Morris USA will provide for customers explanatory inserts.
Reynolds American Tobacco also changed certain brand names, and removed prohibited terms from the packs, only the colors remained unchanged as clues for the smoking customers wishing to discern between different styles of a brand. Though many smokers think that this new changes in their favorite brands look absurd.
“I am smoking Newport Light 100s for many years, and now it is little bit surprising for me to hear its new name and bear it in mind, said Jenny Firat, a smoker from Miami. “It’s simply absurd to impose such regulations, because we all know that there are no good and harmless cigarettes”.
Tobacco producers state that such words as “light” and “mild” explain to smokers the taste of each particular cigarettes variety, and are associated with reduced health complications. For example “lighter” styles usually contain less nicotine and different filters.
However public health organizations announce that colors are as deceiving as words, while cigarette industry says they have to be given at least one alternative in order to help adult consumers to differentiate various styles of one cigarettes brand.
Anti-tobacco organizations affirm that their claims are based on investigations demonstrating that most smokers think that cigarettes named as “light” or packed in light-colored packs are less harmful for them, said David Hammond, a scientist from the University of Waterloo in Canada.
Professor Hummond says that colors are used to form certain attitude to a particular product, as for instance producers of dairy products usually use lighter and pastel colors to distinguish diet products.
Also the scientist added that colors should be prohibited and cigarettes should be packed in plain packs.
In spite of this tobacco companies state that the subsequent regulations will affect the industry and will cause confusion.