New Cigarette Packaging regulations

[kval07]

For those who haven't heard, the FDA is instituting new packaging regulations for cigarettes. The FDA will start "requiring graphics on labels depicting the negative health consequences of smoking." Frequently Asked Questions on the Passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA)

What are some of the key regulatory timelines associated with the FSPTCA?


There are many requirements with deadlines outlined in the FSPTCA. Some highlights include:

• By October 2009, cigarettes will be prohibited from having candy, fruit, and spice flavors as their characterizing flavors.
• By January 2010, tobacco manufacturers and importers will submit information to FDA about ingredients and additives in tobacco products.
• By April 2010, FDA will reissue the 1996 regulation aimed at reducing young people’s access to tobacco products and curbing the appeal of tobacco to the young.
• By July 2010, tobacco manufacturers may no longer use the terms "light," "low," and "mild" on tobacco products without an FDA order in effect.
• By July 2010, warning labels for smokeless tobacco products will be revised and strengthened.
• By October 2012, warning labels for cigarettes will be revised and strengthened.

Apparently the purpose is to stop kids/teens from smoking and hopefully get heavy smokers to quit by showing them what they are doing to their body.

I can understand the want to regulate the packaging and get the numbers of smokers to decline. Smokers are a huge drag on the the cost of health care and kids are smoking earlier and earlier.I personally hate smoking. I think it is disgusting. And being trapped in a hot vehicle in Iraq for 24 hours straight with four CHAIN SMOKERS doesn't make me want to light up.

But I just can't get behind so proactively trying to lower company profits by making them package their stuff in a negative way. Though I will say that the US has some of the weakest warnings on its packaging when compared to cigarette packaging in other countries.

So, to smokers: When the new packaging rolls out, will it deter you from buying cigarettes?

I'll be the first to say that when fat people start showing up on candy bar wrappers, it won't deter me. Nope. Not gonna happen.

[katieyj]

NOPE .... I'll still buy them. At least until the day I decide I WANT to quit. By the way if you find any coupons for Misty let me know ;)

[jen276here]

I am a smoker but I am also for discouraging others to smoke. It is not healthy, etc. etc. BUT I think this is all a big waste of time. People are going to do what they want to do, for the right reasons, for the wrong reasons, for no reason... I don't see graphic images and new warnings as an effective measure to curb the current or next generation of smokers. JMO.

[brokenchina]

It sounds like something that will just add to the cost of the product. I think most adults are aware of the risks associated with smoking. If it deters younger people from starting then that would be a good thing but until it happens and we see the statistics, we won't know if it has any effect.

I quit smoking about two months ago. I lose track of time so it may have been longer than that. It wasn't the easiest thing I have ever done but it was nowhere near as difficult or uncomfortable as I expected it to be. DH had a heart attack in May (I think it was May). Two doctors told him if he didn't quit smoking, he would more than likely have a major heart attack within two years. We were quitting together. Well, I quit but he didn't. He's cut back but keeps making excuses for not actually quitting. I ask him to smoke outside because I can't stand the smell now. It doesn't make me want a cigarette, it just stinks to me now.

I quit by drinking lots of Crystal Light lemonade and cutting straws to the length of cigarettes to hold in my hand especially when driving because that was a trigger. It was uncomfortable for about a week and then after that it was better every day afterwards. I actually lost a little weight because I was drinking the sugar free lemonade instead of sweet tea or soft drinks. Something about the acidity of the lemonade really helped me when I had a craving. Maybe this might help someone else. Just remember that if I can quit, you can, too, if you want to. I didn't really pick a time to quit. I was terrified for DH and figured it would make it easier for him to quit if I did. And I got really mad at the money we were paying out for something that was slowly killing us or damaging our body in such a way that we might become disabled in the future. I'm really cheap so thinking about the money I would be saving was a major incentive for me. LOL

[NIGHTB1022]

NOPE .... I'll still buy them. At least until the day I decide I WANT to quit. By the way if you find any coupons for Misty let me know ;)

I quit smoking Misty, they made me cough too bad and went to Eve Menthol Light 120's, in my area they are cheaper and they last longer than Misty's. They taste better too.

As far as quitting goes, it's the only vice I have left LOL. I don't drink, and no I don't want to quit smoking right now either.

I am 54 years old and almost everyone I know that quit smoking in their later years came down with lung cancer right after they quit and I am not ready to check out yet LOL.

[meggers]

I quit over 4 years ago. Dum Dums helped. They make really great flavors now, btw.

The worst time I had was a drive to TN (500) miles. I consumed approx. 70 Dum Dums.

I don't think some graphic image on a cig pack will keep anyone from smoking. They'll just come out with cig skins, congress will then make those illegal & forget to exclude cell phone skins in the bill & we'll demand town hall meetings to regain our cell skin rights, but alas! They'll be on a 3 month break.

[NIGHTB1022]

I quit over 4 years ago. Dum Dums helped. They make really great flavors now, btw.

The worst time I had was a drive to TN (500) miles. I consumed approx. 70 Dum Dums.

I don't think some graphic image on a cig pack will keep anyone from smoking. They'll just come out with cig skins, congress will then make those illegal & forget to exclude cell phone skins in the bill & we'll demand town hall meetings to regain our cell skin rights, but alas! They'll be on a 3 month break.

How about it, isn't that the truth!

[MaryMary]

The images are directed not on long time smokers, but on someone who just started. I'm not sure teens would like to be seen with the box carrying grafic images of black lungs..

Have someone remember the ads against smoking where a person tring to quit carry the box with a picture of the loved one, to be strong and available longer for them? IMO, it might work good for many.

[meggers]

The images are directed not on long time smokers, but on someone who just started. I'm not sure teens would like to be seen with the box carrying grafic images of black lungs..

Are you kidding? They have worse than that on their t-shirts!

Have someone remember the ads against smoking where a person tring to quit carry the box with a picture of the loved one, to be strong and available longer for them? IMO, it might work good for many.

Yes. This just might work. OTOH, teens are notorious for thinking they're invincible.

[MaryMary]

The images are directed not on long time smokers, but on someone who just started. I'm not sure teens would like to be seen with the box carrying grafic images of black lungs..

Are you kidding? They have worse than that on their t-shirts!

I'm talking about direct connection: they are using a substance responsible making their lungs black, reminded about this fact by seeing the picture every time they pick up that box, while their T-shirts are just images without action. This reminder soon would go unregistered, but will be accumulated in subconscience. Grafics works better then the text to deliver the message on the regular basis.