| Summary: | Introduction
Tobacco use is a major public health problem in the Philippines.
Menthol flavored and flavor capsule cigarettes are independently associated with
increased smoking initiation and appeal to youth and young adults. Packaging
is an important tobacco marketing tool. We describe cigarette packs sold in the
Philippines market and describe products’ flavor and capsule inclusion.
Methods
Tobacco packs were systematically collected in the Philippines in 2016 and
categorized as non-flavored non-capsule, menthol non-capsule, menthol capsule,
and non-menthol capsule. Structural elements (e.g. pack type, shape) and graphic
components (e.g. imagery, descriptors, color) of the packs were compared.
Results
Menthol capsule packs were significantly more likely to be hard packs than
menthol non-capsule. Menthol packs were more likely to be colored green than
non-flavored packs. Non-menthol capsule packs were more likely to display the
term ‘fresh’ than non-capsule packs. Capsule packs were more likely to display
technological appeals than non-capsule packs.
Conclusions
Menthol and flavor capsule cigarettes are packaged differently (most
notably, in terms of color and technological appeals) than non-menthol and noncapsule
packs. Packaging and labeling policy should take this into consideration.
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