‘Light’ and ‘mild’ cigarettes equally deadly

‘Light’ and ‘mild’ cigarettes equally deadly

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
12 April 2009

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation is warning that all tobacco is deadly – no matter how it is packaged.

“Smoking tobacco with descriptors such as ‘light’ and ‘mild’ is not better for health and these products are not safer to smoke compared with smoking regular tobacco,” says Executive Director Jane Patterson.

“Smoking tobacco is harmful regardless of how it is labelled or what the packet looks like.”

All cigarettes are deadly, no matter how they are packaged or described is the latest message from the Face the Facts campaign, developed by the Health Sponsorship Council and the Ministry of Health. In 2005, 44 percent of the manufactured cigarette brands listed for sale contained at least one descriptor, such as light or mild.

Jane Patterson says the tobacco industry has promoted light and mild cigarettes as ‘safer’ or as an alternative to quitting, when all along it has known that these products are not better for health, or safer to smoke, than regular tobacco.

“Recent New Zealand research shows that the tar and nicotine content of light cigarettes is comparable to regular cigarettes, and that light cigarettes may deliver more carbon monoxide than regular cigarettes.

“As well, smokers are likely to compensate for smoking ‘light’ cigarettes, by inhaling more deeply, holding smoke in the lungs for longer, covering manufactured cigarette ventilation holes with the fingers or mouth, or smoking more frequently .

Smokefree Coalition Director Mark Peck says a survey of 2709 smokers reported that 36 percent smoked light or mild cigarettes.

“This included 27 percent of Māori and 40 percent of females surveyed. Those who reported smoking light and mild were asked why they smoked these types: 23 percent provided some health-related reason for their choice, and a further 5 percent thought that light or mild cigarettes were ‘less addictive’ and/or ‘made it easier to quit’.

He says because the descriptors light and mild mislead consumers about the health risks of smoking, the Commerce Commission in New Zealand recently warned the tobacco industry to remove them from tobacco products.

“Extensive research is carried out by tobacco companies to ensure that cigarette packaging appeals to selected target groups, including young adults and women . We can now expect to see tobacco packs that use pack design and colour to communicate the impression of lower tar or milder cigarettes.

“Don’t be fooled - all cigarettes are deadly, including so-called light and mild products.”

ends

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