Egypt: New tobacco packaging warning is a marketing joke
So here it is: The new picture and text on cigarette packs in Egypt does not do the job. If you are in marketing, you will know what I mean just by looking at the picture on this page.Or maybe you do not “get it” right away. I am not afraid to admit that I did not. Someone had to explain to me what the symbolism of that picture means. And then I finally got it. Now, a few weeks later, I found this picture, and decided to share this information with you.
Personally, I think whoever was responsible for this, did not do a very good job. There are so many other ways to inform smokers about the health problems caused by smoking (see below for examples and check the link from Brazil)
Ok, so this does not work, but what would you do?
It would be interesting to hear from you. What would you do if you were charged with designing and writing copy for a tobacco packaging warning? Please use the comment box, or email me and I will gladly post your suggestions.
Below I have listed a number of cigarette warnings from different countries.
Smoking seriously harms you and others around you (Albania)
Smoking is detrimental to health (Argentina)
Don’t let children breathe your smoke (Australia)
Brazil: See this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cigarettes_brazil.JPG
Smoking hurts yourself, and hurts others (Taiwan)
Get help to stop smoking /consult with your doctor/pharmacist) (Croatia)
Smokers die sooner. (Germany and Austria)
Smoke contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanides (Czech Republic)
Smoking is highly addictive, don’t start (Finland)
Smoking can cause low blood pressure and impotence (France)
Smoking causes premature skin aging (Greece)
Smoking can cause a long and painful death (Hungary)
Get help to stop smoking: Callsave Quitline 1850 201 203 (Ireland)
Smoking causes oral cancer. (Italy)
Smoking kills (Latvia)
Smoking may reduce the blood flow and causes impotence (Malta)
Smoking during pregnancy harms your baby (Netherlands)
Smokers die prematurely (Portugal)
Protect the children. Don’t let them inhale your tobacco smoke (Sweden)
Stopping smoking reduces the risk of fatal heart and lung diseases (UK)
SMOKING CAUSES CANCER (India)
Warning by the government of Malaysia, Smoking endangers health (Malaysia)
WARNING: Quit smoking; live longer life. Ministry of Health. (Pakistan)
Smoking tobacco causes nicotine dependence (Russia)
Want a baby? Smoking reduces fertility in men and women (Serbia)
Smoking causes 92% of oral cancer (Singapore)
Seriously damages health (Switzerland)
Smoking also causes paralysis and heart diseases (South Korea)
Smokers die younger. (Ukraine)
Children start smoking when they see adults smoke (Venezuela)
How about you? Any ideas to a copy/image that would prevent people from buying that next pack of cigarettes?
Comments
Dear Michael,
My name is Gabriel Eremia and I’m from Romania.
In my opinion the cigarette warning should be different depending on the country that you’re selling in. For example in Germany we have Smokers die sooner, a direct and simple approach because this is the way the Germans communicate and express there self.
In Greece we have Smoking causes premature skin aging, Greece – sun – beautiful tanned skin…. I think you got my train of thought.
So for Egypt I would use:
1.A hand crushing a lung into sand, in the shape of an hourglass and under I would write: Smoking helps you die quicker.
Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country with Islam as its state religion. Around 90% are identified as Muslim.
Muslim means “one who submits (to God)’’
2.I would put a picture with a dead child just like the one in Brazil, and under I would write: Smoking kills, will God forgive you?
These are just 2 of my ideas.
I understand that on 7 July you’ll be in Bucharest for е-мail Marketing MASTERCLASS , I am very sorry that I don’t have the opportunity to watch you, because the ticket price is to big for my right now. (I’ve just finish my master Studies in Marketing, and looking for a job, so my money is very limited).
But I hope to watch a part of the presentation on your web-site.
I wish you all the best.
Gabriel Eremia
P.s. My web site is under development…