BACKGROUND

There is some evidence that tobacco companies marketing efforts undermine the effects of comprehensive tobacco control programmes.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether point of purchase advertising and promotions are more pervasive in states where comprehensive tobacco control programmes are underway.

DESIGN

Cross sectional survey using 1996 data, with merged records of the existence of local tobacco advertising restrictions.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

581 tobacco retail stores located in close proximity to high schools in mainland USA.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Existence of gift with purchase, number of interior advertisements, and exterior store advertisements for Marlboro cigarettes.

RESULTS

After controlling for store type and existence of advertising restrictions, offer of a gift with purchase for Marlboro cigarettes was significantly more likely in states with comprehensive tobacco control programmes than those without programmes (odds ratio 2.59, 95% confidence interval 1.57 to 4.26). Although not significant, results show an increase in the number of interior and exterior store advertisements for stores located in states with a comprehensive tobacco control programme than those in other states.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest some point of purchase tobacco promotions and advertising are more pervasive in states with comprehensive tobacco control programmes. These efforts are likely to act against the objectives of programmes and need to be accounted for in programme evaluations.

Marlboro bright leaf: the pack is important – tobaccotactics

Marlboro cigarettes facts – marlboro cigarettes tumblr.

According to Talking Retail in January 2013, Marlboro Bright Leaf was exceeding expectations with its intended target group of legal age to 29 year old smokers. To ensure its long term growth PMI decided to rebrand Marlboro Bright Leaf as Bright Leaf .

According to their marketing director, this change is designed to clearly differentiate it from the iconic international Marlboro range. 11

The brand change was introduced in January 2013, occurring in two stages. The first stage involved three sides of the packet being kept the same as the current packaging with a ripped section on the front of the pack to reveal the new packaging underneath (Image3).

The second phase showed the new pack in full but the cellophane wrapping will be used to reassure current Marlboro Bright Leaf smokers with the message New Pack. Same Taste and the pack itself says Bright Leaf .from the makers of Marlboro .

It is not clear why PMI would wish to disassociate Marlboro from Bright Leaf. However, this may have been the plan from its launch. Marlboro is a premium brand. By creating a cheaper brand variant in the mid priced sector, the Marlboro brand s premium status is diluted. However, due to the limited opportunities to market a new brand in the UK owing to advertising regulations, the Marlboro name may have been used as a hook for those down trading to cheaper brands in the sub premium, mid priced segment. 12

Why is this Important?

With the level of advertising restriction in the UK, packaging is key to the success of a new brand. One of the possible consequences of plain packaging, if it is introduced into the UK market, would be to deter the launch of any new cigarette brands as it would be difficult to market a brand without packaging. The creation of this new brand would have been unlikely to succeed were plain packaging already in place.

Indeed, at the Bright Leaf launch in 2009, in response to the proposed Point of Sale advertising ban which would remove all packaging from public view, Jens Behrendt, managing director of PMI said, How can you launch a new product when you can t show it?

Low Priced Segment

Having a premium and a mid priced offering, PMI still lacked an economy brand in the UK. In April 2011 PMI launched Chesterfield cigarettes, available in red, blue and menthol variants. 13 14 The launch was supported by extensive advertising in trade magazines to get retailers to stock the brand and via hostess selling activity in pubs and clubs across major cities in the UK in order to raise its profile.