Plain Packaging Affects Canadian Smoker Perceptions and Support
Gravely S, Chung-Hall J, Craig LV, et al. Evaluating the impact of plain packaging among Canadian smokers: findings from the 2018 and 2020 ITC Smoking and Vaping Surveys. Tobacco Control Published Online First: 21 September 2021.
https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2021/09/16/tobaccocontrol-2021-056635
“Plain packaging was associated with a significant increase in the percentage of Canadian smokers who did not like the look of their cigarette pack (2018: 28.6% vs 2020: 44.7%, p<0.001), whereas no change in pack appeal was observed among smokers in Australia and the USA over the same period. Plain packaging was not associated with changes in HWL [health warning label] effectiveness in Canada. Support for plain packaging increased significantly among Canadian smokers (2018: 25.6% vs 2020: 33.7%, p<0.001).”
Comment: Plain packaging affected smokers’ perceptions and support for plain packaging, countering tobacco company claims of ineffectiveness.
–Stephen Hamann
