How Menthol Is Key to the Tobacco Industry's Strategy of Recruiting and Retaining Young Smokers in Singapore

Eijk, Yvette van der; Lee, Jeong Kyu; Ling, Pamela M.

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.09.001

Cited by 24 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…64,111,124,127,132,135,140 After Thailand's tobacco display ban, TTCs circumvented restrictions with mobile cigarette shops and transparent point-of-sale displays showing brand logos and colours. 126 TTCs utilized trademark diversification 50,56,99,[141][142][143][144][145][146][147][148][149] by using tobacco brands on non-tobacco products such as lighters, 143 wine coolers, 142 luxury products, clothing, or travel agencies and holiday themes. 99,148,149 141 TTCs also invested heavily in sponsorship of popular sports, music concerts, movies, fashion events and the arts, to associate their products with youth, popular culture, adventure and leisure.…”

Section: Political Ties To Tobacco Industrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…99,142 The sale of single sticks, sometimes illegally, was also reported to be common in the region. 90,99,158 Use of Product Design as a Marketing Medium Tobacco companies carefully researched Southeast Asian youth to develop products to appeal to them, 42,100,147 notably cigarettes with novelties such as added flavours, flavour capsules, and product design novelties (sweetened tips, a dial to control menthol delivery). 89,100,117,147,161 To target health-conscious people in Malaysia and Singapore, tobacco companies marketed their imported menthol, 'light' and 'mild' brands with imagery, colours and messages that conveyed a lower health risk, despite knowing that these products were just as harmful as regular brands.…”

Section: Use Of Packaging As a Marketing Mediummentioning

confidence: 99%

“…90,99,158 Use of Product Design as a Marketing Medium Tobacco companies carefully researched Southeast Asian youth to develop products to appeal to them, 42,100,147 notably cigarettes with novelties such as added flavours, flavour capsules, and product design novelties (sweetened tips, a dial to control menthol delivery). 89,100,117,147,161 To target health-conscious people in Malaysia and Singapore, tobacco companies marketed their imported menthol, 'light' and 'mild' brands with imagery, colours and messages that conveyed a lower health risk, despite knowing that these products were just as harmful as regular brands. 47,90,142,147 Companies also used filters, such as charcoal filters or white-coloured filters, to convey a lower health risk, and used descriptors alluding to cutting-edge technology (eg, 'Triple Filter Charcoal') when descriptors such as 'light' and 'mild' were banned.…”

Section: Use Of Packaging As a Marketing Mediummentioning

confidence: 99%

“…89,100,117,147,161 To target health-conscious people in Malaysia and Singapore, tobacco companies marketed their imported menthol, 'light' and 'mild' brands with imagery, colours and messages that conveyed a lower health risk, despite knowing that these products were just as harmful as regular brands. 47,90,142,147 Companies also used filters, such as charcoal filters or white-coloured filters, to convey a lower health risk, and used descriptors alluding to cutting-edge technology (eg, 'Triple Filter Charcoal') when descriptors such as 'light' and 'mild' were banned. 161 Tobacco companies also targeted women in the region with light, menthol-flavoured and 'slim' brands.…”

Section: Use Of Packaging As a Marketing Mediummentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Systematic Review of Tobacco Industry Tactics in Southeast Asia: Lessons for Other Low- And MiddleIncome Regions

Amul

Tan

Eijk

2020

Int J Health Policy Manag

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Background: Transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) have a well-established presence in Southeast Asia and are now targeting other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially Africa. While the tobacco industry’s tactics in Southeast Asia are well documented, no study has systematically reviewed these tactics to inform tobacco control policies and movements in Africa, where the tobacco epidemic is spreading. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review of articles that describe tobacco industry tactics in Southeast Asia, which includes Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, East Timor, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Brunei. After screening 512 articles, we gathered and analysed data from 134 articles which met our final inclusion criteria. Results: Tobacco transnationals gained dominance in Southeast Asian markets by positioning themselves as good corporate citizens with corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, promoting the industry as a pillar of, and partner for, economic growth. Tobacco transnationals also formed strategic sectoral alliances and reinforced their political ties to delay the implementation of regulations and lobby for weaker tobacco control. Where governments resisted the transnationals’ attempts to enter a market, they used litigation and deceptive tactics including smuggling to pressure governments to open markets, and tarnished the reputation of public health organizations. The tobacco industry undermined tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) regulations through a broad range of direct and indirect marketing tactics. Conclusion: The experience of Southeast Asia with tobacco transnationals show that, beyond highlighting the public health benefits, underscoring the economic benefits of tobacco control might be a more compelling argument for governments in LMICs to prioritise tobacco control. Given the tobacco industry’s widespread use of litigation, LMICs need more legal support and resources to counter industry litigations. LMICs should also prioritize measures to protect health policy from the vested interests of the tobacco industry, and to close regulatory loopholes in tobacco marketing restrictions.

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Section: Political Ties To Tobacco Industrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Use Of Packaging As a Marketing Mediummentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Use Of Packaging As a Marketing Mediummentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Use Of Packaging As a Marketing Mediummentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Systematic Review of Tobacco Industry Tactics in Southeast Asia: Lessons for Other Low- And MiddleIncome Regions

Amul

Tan

Eijk

2020

Int J Health Policy Manag

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Singapore has a history of strong anti-tobacco measures, including designating smoke-free public places and transport, prohibiting advertising, promotion and sponsorship as well as enforcing strict rules for packaging and labelling of tobacco products 16. Cigarettes are the dominant tobacco product in the country, with menthol cigarettes common as a gateway product 17. Products such as e-cigarettes, smokeless cigars, smokeless cigarillos or smokeless cigarettes are prohibited 18.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating smoking control policies in the e-cigarette era: a modelling study

et al. 2019

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BackgroundIn jurisdictions in which electronic cigarettes are currently prohibited, policy makers must weigh the potentially lower risk compared with conventional cigarettes against the risk of initiation of e-cigarettes among non-smokers.MethodsWe simulated a synthetic population over a 50-year time horizon with an open cohort model using data from Singapore, a country where e-cigarettes are currently prohibited, and data from the USA, the UK and Japan. Using the smoking prevalence and the quality-adjusted life year gained calculated, we compared tobacco control policies without e-cigarettes—namely, raising the minimum legal age (MLA), introducing a smoke-free generation (SFG) and tax rises on tobacco consumption—with policies legalising e-cigarettes, either taking a laissez-faire approach or under some form of restriction. We also evaluated combinations of these policies.ResultsRegardless of the country informing the transition probabilities to and from e-cigarette use in Singapore, a laissez-faire e-cigarette policy could reduce the smoking prevalence in the short term, but it is not as effective as other policies in the long term. The most effective single policies evaluated were SFG and aggressive tax rises; the most effective combination of policies considered was MLA plus moderate tax rises and e-cigarettes on prescription.ConclusionPolicy makers in jurisdictions in which e-cigarettes are not yet established may be advised not to prioritise e-cigarettes in their tobacco end-game strategy, unless their use can be restricted to current smokers seeking to quit.

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