Will Monochrome Marketing Curb Smoking?
168 countries signed a World Health Organization treaty to ban tobacco advertising completely. One of the newest endeavor was proposed by Britain and now, all eyes are on Westminster to see if the government will accept its Department of Health’s proposal to make cigarette package plain. The Health Department reasons that youth will not find the packs attractive if the branding of the cigarette is cut out, leaving just the manufacturers’ names and selling them in black and white boxes … something like this.
Honestly, I have doubts that monochrome advertising will make a great difference. The impact is likely to be negligible because smoking is due to peer pressure and hip factor, more than cigarette advertising. However, with rising fuel price impacting on all things imported, the increased price of cigarette is a better deterrent. A higher price tag may actually help people to cut down on smoking.
