A recent study has found that majority of smokers think that their cigarette brands are safer than others. The study suggests that cigarette packaging has a strong impact on the risk perception of smokers. The smokers of gold, silver or slim cigarettes are more likely to believe that their brands are less harmful.
Virginia Slims cigarettes
Researchers surveyed more than 8000 current and former smokers from Australia, the UK, US and Canada, to know about their perception to smoking. The results have shown that women are more likely to think that some brands might be less harmful. Women were mainly found to smoke slim cigarette brands. Most of the older individuals consider their brands as safer. The study also found that such false beliefs were higher in the smokers of the UK and US.
Smoking is one of the leading causes of cancer in Australia. The federal government has planned to introduce plain packaging for all cigarettes brands. The cigarettes will be sold in markets with packages of same plain color and without any graphics or logos.
Under the proposed plan, all of the tobacco companies will be required to print their brand name in a specific font. The plan is expected to reduce smoking rates in Australia.
