Persuasive Essay On Cigarette Advertising

Cigarettes are bad. Since the scientific discovery of 1964 on health effects of smoking, no one can deny their link to cancer and other life-threatening disease anymore (Komaroff). More than six million people die due to smoking related diseases every year (Daube et al., 1001). Each one of these cancer sticks contain 400 toxins (Tarshis, 5). Before laws regulating cigarette advertising, companies knew exactly how to influence young adults. Many may recall Joe Camel which was a “cool” camel often seen wearing sunglasses in the 90s or doctors proclaiming Marlboros were better or even Santa Claus claiming he preferred Lucky Strike. Each brand has its personality. Marlboro was known for his Marlboro Man, a mysterious manly cowboy who is always armed with his hat and his cigarette. While Vogue was a feminine fashionable brand which were often flavored. It wasn’t uncommon to see marketing tactics such as putting collectors baseball cards inside the pack. Although laws every where in the world limit to which extend tobacco companies can market their products. Advertising that targeted

A fairly recent way to dissuade the public from smoking is plain packaging. Plain packaging ensures no distinction between the brands other than the name. Each pack holds a graphic health warning sign. All logos are taken away and each brand name has the same typography. Anything that could attribute any personality to a pack of cigarette is taken away. The design has been researched to be the less attractive possible (Daube et al. 1001). Australia has been using plain packaging since 2012, while Ireland quite recently passed the public health act for standardized packaging of tobacco passed in 2015. Now, Canada has recently added themselves in this debate with the hope of passing a similar law. Many arguments were heard by different pressure groups showing the advantage and challenges of standardized