New Zealand - Tobacco companies target women..

May 28, 2010 - This research release comes ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Monday, May 31st..

Tobacco companies are finding ways to market their products to women despite advertising restrictions, according to new research published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

PAPER: Marketing tobacco to New Zealand women: 8 ways to reflect on “World No Tobacco Day” Nick Wilson, Janet Hoek, Jo Peace, Heather Gifford, George Thomson, Richard Edwards, Journal of the New Zealand Medical Association, 28-May-2010, Vol 123 No 1315.

A team of researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington and Whakauae Research for Maori Health and Development examined the ways that tobacco companies targeted women.

The research showed that by marketing female-oriented cigarette brand names like Vogue Bleue and Topaz with feminine colours, packaging and extra-slim cigarettes, companies were appealing to female smokers. Deceptive terms such as "subtle", "mild" and "mellow" are used to describe former light brands. Women are more likely to use these brands and this may delay them quitting the habit, the researchers said.

Some related news briefs:
Virginia Slims "Purse Pack" Available 1st Quarter 2009..;
Gallaher criticized for marketing cigarettes at young women..
Bangladesh - tobacco companies targeting women, also other developing countries..;
R.J. Reynolds - Camel No. 9 did ads target children and teens..;
Russsia - 73 percent of boys and 65 percent of girls smoke..;
Canadian survey - women unaware of all the dangers of smoking..;
Women Who Smoke Have Heart Attacks 14 Years Earlier...

Dr Heather Gifford of Whakauae Research Services says smoking is more serious for women than men before middle age. "It has negative health impacts on children; perinatal mortality, low birth weight and premature birth are just some of these effects.

In New Zealand, particularly with Maori women, 50% of whom still smoke.

Other methods highlighted by the research include advertising in imported fashion magazines and the marketing of menthol cigarettes, which women are more likely to smoke. The researchers concludes that advertising and sponsorship restrictions in the current law, set out by the Smokefree Environments Act, are inadequate and needed to be expanded.

Reference: Tobacco companies target women, TVNZ.co.nz, 5/28/2010.

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New Zealand - more than half of the people want to end tobacco sales by 2020..;
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New Zealand - smoking ban results in decrease in heart attacks..;
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New Zealand - Maori women - almost 50% smoke..;
New Zealand - more and more teenagers turned off by smoking..;
New Zealand - loophole in the law banning tobacco sponsorship..;
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New Zealand - health researchers calling on government to ban importation of tobacco..;
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