Background and Context:
For decades, the tobacco industry has targeted females with slims/superslims cigarettes. In recent years in a vast number of countries worldwide, a proliferation of new slims/superslims brands have been introduced in the market, and global sales volumes for the slims/superslims category have grown dramatically.
Aim:
This presentation will make the case for banning “slims” and “superslims” cigarettes, that is cigarettes with a diameter of 7.5mm or less.
Strategy/Tactics:
Slims/superslims cigarettes are detrimental in numerous ways, including (1) preying on weight concerns of women and girls; (2) making the cigarette more fashionable and attractive; (3) being packaged in “perfume packs” or “purse packs” that are stylish and attractive, and that have a thin package design that undermines the impact of the health warning; and (4) creating perceptions that slims/superslims cigarettes are significantly less harmful than regular cigarettes.
Programme/Policy Process:
The European Union’s initial proposed revisions to the Tobacco Products Directive, released in December 2012, contained a provision to prohibit slims/superslims cigarettes of 7.5mm or less but, following tobacco industry lobbying, this provision was not included in the final adopted Directive.
In Australia, while slims/superslims cigarettes have not yet been prohibited, the implementation of plain and standardized packaging has meant that “perfume pack” dimensions for packaging are now prohibited.
Outcomes/What was learned:
The tobacco industry’s targeting of females through slims/superslims cigarettes should not be able to continue. Governments should implement a ban on slims/superslims cigarettes as soon as possible.