Keeping us addicted to nicotine

Big tobacco companies have introduced marketing tactics to keep cigarettes affordable for the poorest smokers, undermining efforts to reduce smoking rates, researchers say.

Rosemary Hiscock, of the tobacco control research group at the University of Bath, said: “Through sophisticated pricing strategies and clever tactics, such as price-marked packs and small pack sizes, the industry is thwarting a public health measure in order to keep smokers hooked on tobacco and their profits rolling in..."

Rob Branston, from the University of Bath’s school of management, said: “The industry is effectively manipulating the system: it is absorbing the tax increases on the cheapest brands to make sure they stay cheap. It does this especially around the time of the budget to hoodwink smokers. But later in the year it gradually puts the cost of these products up, hoping smokers won’t notice. This game is possible because of the massive profits it is making on its premium products.”