Will Plain Packaging Reduce Cigarette Consumption?*

Clarke, Harry; Prentice, David

doi:10.1111/j.1759-3441.2012.00186.x

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Recently, as the first jurisdiction worldwide, plain packaging was introduced in Australia [25]. Results from experimental studies in several countries indicate that introducing plain packs can have large implications for how young people view cigarette brands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young smokers and non-smokers perceptions of typical users of plain vs. branded cigarette packs: a between-subjects experimental survey

Lund¹,

Scheffels²

2013

BMC Public Health

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BackgroundIn an attempt to minimize the pack design avenue of communication between tobacco producers and smokers and potential smokers, several jurisdictions, including Norway, have considered regulations on cigarette pack design. The main aim of the current study was to investigate how package design affects young people’s perceptions of typical smokers of some pre-chosen cigarette brands and brand varieties.MethodsBased on data from a web survey among 1022 15–22 year-olds, possible effects of plain packaging of cigarettes on adolescents’ views about typical cigarette smokers were investigated. The data collection had a between-subjects design, in which participants were allocated to one of three groups, and asked to typify the smokers of selected cigarette packs either in branded, plain or plain with descriptor versions. The sample included boys and girls, and smokers and non-smokers. The smoker characteristics included in the investigation were: gender, glamour, stylishness, popularity, coolness, sophistication and slimness.ResultsAfter creating sum-scores within and across packs and pack versions, analyses indicated that a shift from branded to plain cigarette packaging would result in a reduction in positive user images related to smoking among adolescents and young adults. For girls, this effect held up after controlling for confounders.ConclusionsTo the extent that plain packaging contributes to making smoking images less positive, it can potentially be an efficient aid in reducing smoking uptake among adolescents.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young smokers and non-smokers perceptions of typical users of plain vs. branded cigarette packs: a between-subjects experimental survey

Lund¹,

Scheffels²

2013

BMC Public Health

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“…Similarly, if reducing the appeal of tobacco products to consumers was achieved, prices would likely be lower and more concentrated, 4 reflecting a reduction in own and cross-price elasticities. Alone, lower prices would lead to increases in consumption; however, this increase in demand is assumed to be offset by emphasising the unappealing (Clarke & Prentice, 2012) aspects of tobacco consumption.…”

Section: Plain Packaging -An Innovative Policy Approach?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More recently, academic attention has turned to the effectiveness of plain packaging. Only two papers have examined plain packaging from an economic perspective; Clarke and Prentice (2012) and Davidson and de Silva (2014). Clarke and Prentice (2012) focussed on the underlying theoretical economic rationale and likely effects of the legislation as well as empirically assessed the previous restrictions on advertising, Davidson and de Silva (2014) employed a different approach empirically assessing tobacco expenditure data of expenditure data.…”

Section: Previous Economic Studies -A Short Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Did Recent Tobacco Reforms Change the Cigarette Market?

Davidson

Silva

2017

J of App Econs and Policy

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The Australian tobacco market is very tightly regulated. Australian governments, like many others, have a long history of enacting various forms of control, including restricting advertising and imposing taxes. Using Australian government data, we investigate the effects of controls on cigarette market characteristics coinciding with Australia's introduction of plain packaging in 2012 (arguably the most innovative form of tobacco control in many years) as well as a subsequent tax increase. Using these data, we find no evidence to suggest that prices and market shares, key market characteristics, changed as a result of plain packaging. Moreover, using a second data set, we find that the introduction of plain packaging had no discernible effect on smoking rates. This finding is not surprising as both domestic and international research shows that government attempts to discourage new consumers, and encourage current consumers to quit, have not been very successful.

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“…The second implication of the plain packaging policy, ceteris paribus, is that the market share of illegal tobacco will increase (Farrell and Fry 2013). Clarke and Prentice (2012) provide an analysis of both these claims and suggest that, at best, they are overstated. But what is important for our purposes is that Clarke and Prentice (2012) agree that a plain packaging policy could cause prices to fall and consumption to rise, and they recommend that increases in excise tax be employed to prevent tobacco prices from falling.…”

Section: Theoretical Predictionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Clarke and Prentice (2012) provide an analysis of both these claims and suggest that, at best, they are overstated. But what is important for our purposes is that Clarke and Prentice (2012) agree that a plain packaging policy could cause prices to fall and consumption to rise, and they recommend that increases in excise tax be employed to prevent tobacco prices from falling. By contrast, Farrell and Fry (2013) suggest that plain packaging would blur the distinction between legal and illegal tobacco and result in a greater demand for illegal tobacco.…”

Section: Theoretical Predictionsmentioning

confidence: 99%