Impact of the removal of light and mild descriptors from cigarette packages in Ontario, Canada: switching to "light replacement" brand variants.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study assessed cessation and brand switching among smokers in Ontario, Canada after tobacco companies' voluntary removal of 'light' and 'mild' descriptors from cigarette packages.

Method

We analyzed longitudinal data on brand preference and cessation from a cohort of smokers (n=632) in the Ontario Tobacco Survey in Canada from 2006 to 2008 with a longitudinal regression model.

Results

While cessation differed by brand variant prior to the ban (7% light vs. 3% regular; P<0.05), it did not differ by brand variant after the ban was implemented. In 2008, when light cigarette brand variants were no longer available, 33% of the sample still reported smoking lights and 31% smoked light replacement brand variants. During each subsequent follow-up, light brand s

SUBMITTER: Cohen JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4340068 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature