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The tobacco industry vehemently opposes plain packaging... must be a great idea!

With tobacco advertising banned in many countries, tobacco packaging plays an important role in establishing and reinforcing brand image. Research shows people who smoke have extreme brand loyalty and industry marketing fosters brand recognition. Plain packaging — kraft-coloured with brand names printed in black type and full-colour graphic health warnings — would eliminate brand competition between tobacco companies and have a substantial impact on preventing trial and uptake of smoking by youth.

Additional Information from the Tobacco Control Reference Catalogue

Cigarette package design : opportunities for disease prevention
DiFranza, J.R.; Clark, D.M.; Pollay, R.W.
Tobacco Induced Diseases. 1(2): 97-109. June 2002. [Article]
The tobacco industry designs cigarette packaging to appeal to smokers and create their brand image. The authors review tobacco industry documents to determine motivations for package design and if they are targeting children. They conclude that package design techniques should be used to design generic packaging and effective warning labels.

The case for plain packaging
Cunningham, Rob; Kyle, Ken.
Tobacco Control. 4(1): 80-86. March 1995. [Article]
Plain packaging requires removing all appealing aspects of cigarette packages, to be replaced with a standard colour, size, brand name, materials, and opening method. This article responds to arguments made against plain packaging by the tobacco industry, how plain packaging would be helpful to tobacco control, and including reasons why this would decrease cigarette consumption.

The case for the plain packaging of tobacco products
Freeman, Becky; Chapman, Simon; Rimmer, Matthew.
Addiction. 103(4): 580-590. April 2008. [Article]
Reviews the literature and tobacco industry documents on the possible impact of plain packaging on tobacco advertising. Plain packaging would remove a significant ability of the tobacco industry to advertise its product to people who smoke and who do not smoke. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) should include cigarette packaging as tobacco advertising.

The plot against plain packaging
Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.
Ottawa: Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, [2008]. [Report]
Table of contents: Synopsis - Prologue : tobacco in the winter of 1994 - A new idea for health protection - A new strategy for tobacco companies - On the front line in Canada - Epilogue - References.