Tobacco Brands Research Articles

ANALYSIS OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND NICOTINE IN A BUCCAL TOBACCO BRAND MARKETED IN YEMEN

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to check the potential presence of illicit drugs and to quantify the amount of nicotine in a buccal tobacco brand that had been observed to be increasingly used by Yemeni youths, since 2014, causing narcosis resembling states among them.
 Methods: Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) described by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was used to screen illicit drugs in the tested brand. The illicit drugs investigated included opiates, heroin, amphetamines, and cocaine. The TLC results were confirmed as recommended by the UNODC using color chemical tests. Identification and quantification of nicotine in the brand was carried out using an appropriate high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system.
 Results: No illicit drug was found in the tested tobacco brand. On the other hand, it was found that the amount of nicotine in just a single dose (sachet) of the buccal brand was 17.67±0.901 mg, which was 3.53-fold greater than usual buccal dose of nicotine (5 mg).
 Conclusion: With the exception of cannabis, opioids, and hallucinogens that were not investigated in this study due to technical obstacles, other major illicit narcotic drugs are not found in the brand. The brand contains high amount of nicotine/sachet. However, knowing that the user may use more than one sachet of the brands a day, there is a great potential of nicotine overdosing due to intake of the brand. This may cause a narcosis resembling state called “Nesbitt’s paradox,” characterized by reducing neuronal activity of the user.

Exploiting a low tax system: non-tax-induced cigarette price increases in Taiwan 2011–2016

IntroductionThis study aims to analyse the non-tax-induced price increasing strategies adopted by tobacco industry in Taiwan, a high-income country with comprehensive tobacco control policies but low tobacco taxes and a...

Quantification of Nicotine and Cotinine in Plasma, Saliva, and Urine by HPLC Method in Chewing Tobacco Users.

Background:Nicotine acts as major alkaloid of all tobacco products including smokeless tobacco (SLT) forms. The mode of SLT consumption is in the form of chewing under the cheek or lip and induced biochemical alterations in the plasma, saliva, and urine. Materials and Methods:The smokeless tobacco products like Raja or blue bull tobacco brands are widely consumed by human male volunteers under the age of 18-30 years for the period of 3 years consisting of 30g per day. The concentrations of nicotine and cotinine in samples of plasma, saliva, and urine are quantified by the method of HPLC. The remaining variables of plasma are evaluated by auto analyzer and spectrophotometric methods. Results:The analysis of results presented that significant increase in the levels of nicotine and cotinine in plasma, saliva, and urine of chewing tobacco users. The lipid profile (Cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C), liver marker enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, and ALP), kidney markers (Creatinine, urea, and uric acid), glucose, and the remaining variables are present within normal range observed in SLT users. The lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO) (NO2 and NO3), protein carbonyls (PCO), and peroxynitrites (ONOO-) are reported to be higher levels in the plasma of experimental subjects in comparison with normal controls. The various brands of tobacco varieties (Raja, madhu chhap, hans chhap, miraj, badshah, blue bull, and swagat gold tobacco) are presented. Conclusion:The chewing tobacco users exhibited greater amounts of nicotine and cotinine are at risk of cardiovascular due to nicotine has cardiovascular effects, and oral cancer disease complications in the future for chronic consumption of smokeless tobacco products due to the presence of carcinogens of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines.

Effect of electric heating and ice added to the bowl on mainstream waterpipe semivolatile furan and other toxicant yields

ObjectivesWe examined mainstream total particulate matter, nicotine, cotinine, menthol, pyrene, carbon monoxide (CO) and semivolatile furan yields from a commercial waterpipe with two methods for heating the tobacco, quick-light charcoal...

Toxic heavy metal (Pb and Cd) content in tobacco cigarette brands in Selangor state, Peninsular Malaysia.

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are ubiquitous metals widely distributed in the environment, resulting in toxic health effects. This project aims to evaluate Pb and Cd as toxic elements in 15 different tobacco cigarette brands produced and/or sold in Selangor state, Peninsular Malaysia. The concentrations of Pb and Cd in all tobacco brands tested in this study were determined using the air-acetylene flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). On average, the concentrations of Pb and Cd in different tobacco brand samples ranged from 3.05 and 0.80μg/g dw, respectively. The results indicate that assessment mean values of Pb inhaled from smoking one packet of 20 cigarettes were in the range of 1.55-3.51μg. Furthermore, the concentration of Cd inhaled per packet of cigarettes (20 sticks) is estimated to be 0.04-0.36μg. However, there was a significant difference in the concentrations of Pb and Cd between the different brands of tobacco cigarettes, among cigarette prices (cheap versus expensive) of tobacco brands. In conclusion, cigarette smokers in Selangor, Malaysia, are heavily exposed to Pb and Cd, and such exposure could adversely affect their health in the long term. The impact of toxic heavy metals on smokers in this state would be an area for future research.

Associations between emotional tobacco brand attachment and quitting plans among Norwegian smokers and snus users.

While most tobacco users want to quit using tobacco, only a small minority succeed in quitting. Affective attitudes might influence health-related intentions and behavior. Emotional attachment to tobacco brands is an aspect of such affective attitudes. The aim of this study is to investigate emotional attachment to the personal snus or cigarette pack, as well as associations with quitting plans, among snus users and smokers. A sample of 1,450 smokers and 1,423 snus users (16-83 years, mean age 41 years, 41% women) was recruited from a web panel and weighted according to national statistics on smoking and snus use. Positive package-related feelings loaded on a single component in principal component analysis. Multinomial adjusted regressions were performed for smokers and snus users, with quitting plans as the dependent variable (no quitting plan, plan to quit within 6 months, plan to quit later) and emotional attachment as an independent variable. Smokers and snus users often endorsed statements expressing positive feelings related to buying and using their choice of tobacco brand, with endorsements ranging from 17% to 73%. Adjusted multinomial regressions showed that emotional attachment was associated with lower likelihood of planning to quit smoking within the next 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.68, p < .001) and lower likelihood of planning to quit snus use within the next 6 months (AOR = 0.54, p < .001) or later (AOR = 0.81, p < .01). Emotional attachment to tobacco brands is negatively associated with quitting plans among smokers and snus users. Policies to reduce brand attachment might lead to increased quitting plans and potentially increased quit attempts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Mobile website characteristics of leading tobacco product brands: cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, hookah and cigars

SignificanceMost US adults use smartphones for internet access. Understanding what they see when they view smartphone-optimised (mobile) tobacco websites is important, as it can inform tobacco education and cessation strategies....

Plain tobacco packaging, increased graphic health warnings and adolescents’ perceptions and initiation of smoking: DePICT, a French nationwide study

BackgroundPlain packaging (PP) of tobacco products and increased graphic warnings may contribute to lower attractiveness of smoking, particularly among youths. In France, this policy was introduced on 1 January 2017....

Exploiting the "video game craze": A case study of the tobacco industry's use of video games as a marketing tool.

BackgroundVideo games have grown in popularity since the 1970s, and tobacco imagery is present in a substantial subset of games, including those oriented to youth. Much like exposure to tobacco content in films, exposure to tobacco content in video games may influence smoking uptake and use; however, the tobacco industry’s role in facilitating or promoting the use of tobacco imagery in video games is unclear. We explored the industry’s interest in and use of video games to market their products to youth and young adults.MethodsWe retrieved and analyzed archival tobacco industry documents. We supplemented information from the documents with current and archived versions of several brand and corporate websites and one website containing user-supplied information on video games.ResultsTobacco companies recognized the youth appeal and marketing potential of video games as early as 1980. Initial marketing ideas included incorporating video game themes into product packaging and design. More fully realized plans focused on incorporating video games into product promotions in bars, as a high visibility way to attract younger patrons and increase long-term marketing opportunities by generating names for tobacco company direct-marketing databases. Tobacco companies also incorporated video games into in-home product promotions, primarily as components of brand websites, in order to enhance brand image and generate repeat website traffic. A similar desire to attract and keep visitors led to discussions about the inclusion of video games on corporate youth smoking prevention websites, although only one company, Lorillard, followed through.ConclusionsVideo game players are an attractive target market for tobacco companies. Video games, as used by these companies, facilitate consumer engagement with particular tobacco brands or particular corporate messages. Eliminating the use of video games as a promotional vehicle may require limiting tobacco marketing in both physical and online environments.

Real Time Analysis of Metal Concentration in Exhaust from a Smoking Booth and the Nickel Emission Contribution by Each Tobacco Brand Estimated by Hierarchical Bayesian Model: Case Study at Shimane University

Real Time Analysis of Metal Concentration in Exhaust from a Smoking Booth and the Nickel Emission Contribution by Each Tobacco Brand Estimated by Hierarchical Bayesian Model: Case Study at Shimane University

How do smokers respond to pictorial and threatening tobacco warnings? The role of threat level, repeated exposure, type of packs and warning size

Purpose This study aims to investigate the role of two structural factors – threat level depicted on fear messages and warning size – as well as two contextual factors – repeated exposure and type of packs – on pictorial and threatening tobacco warnings’ effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach A two (warning threat level: moderate vs high) × two (coverage: 40 vs 75 per cent) × two (packaging type: plain vs branded) within-subjects experiment was carried out. Subjects were exposed three times to pictorial and threatening tobacco warnings. Both self-report and psychophysiological measurements of emotion were used. Findings Results indicate that threat level is the most effective structural factor to influence smokers’ reactions, while warning size has very low impact. Furthermore, emotional arousal, fear and disgust, as well as attitude toward tobacco brand, decrease after the second exposure to pictorial and threatening tobacco warnings, but stay stable at the third exposure. However, there is no effect of repetition on the emotional valence component, arousal-subjective component, on intention of quitting or of reducing cigarette consumption. Finally, there is a negative effect of plain packs on attitude toward tobacco brand over repeated exposures, but there is no effect of the type of packs on smokers’ emotions and intentions. Social implications Useful marketing social guidance, which might help government decision-makers increase the effectiveness of smoking reduction measures, is offered. Originality/value For the first time in this context, psychophysiological and self-report measurements were combined to measure smokers’ reactions toward pictorial and threatening tobacco warnings in a repeated exposure study.

An Analysis of Tobacco Placement in YouTube Cartoon Series The Big Lez Show.

Social media platforms such as YouTube provide largely unregulated opportunities for covert tobacco product placement that immerse viewers in evolving narratives and surrounding fan-created material. A Winfield Blues product placement appeared in series 3 of The Big Lez Show, a "crude comedy," DIY animation web series that has garnered more than 70 million views. We used a netnographic approach that adapts the traditional, in-person participant observation techniques of ethnography to investigate this online fan and associated paratexts, and conducted a frame-by-frame analysis of the most pertinent 12 minutes and 5 seconds of animation, and 250 pages of paratexts. The Big Lez show links "Winnie Blues" to seemingly authentic virtual content, including memes, merchandise, discussion groups, and even smartphone apps. These para, or secondary texts, surround the original content, provide opportunities for brand co-creation in online fan forums, and integrate tobacco brands in everyday life. The Big Lez Show integrates Winnie Blues with popular culture and raises important questions about how social media facilitates tobacco product placement. Policy responses include encouraging social media platforms to include tobacco within webmaster guidelines and requiring site owners to demonstrate their content reaches only those legally able to purchase tobacco. Contemporary entertainment using social media platforms can create immersive contexts that present an elusive and ongoing challenge to tobacco control policies. The Big Lez Show's use of the Winnie Blues brand imagery spawned memes, merchandise, and smartphone apps that amplified the brand's reach and connection with young people. Policy responses include stronger requirements that webmasters include tobacco product placement within their guidelines or requirements that site owners featuring tobacco imagery demonstrate their sites do not reach those aged below the age at which tobacco may be legally purchased.

Tobacco Brand Names and Logos Recognition by First Grade Schoolchildren

Background and Aims: Prosmoking messages, delivered through smoking parents, media and other exposure factors, can reach very young children and influence attitudes and behaviors toward smoking. This study aimed to assess the ability of First grade of primary schoolchildren to recognize tobacco products and logos of widely advertised tobacco products compared with other common commercial products. Methods: Cross-sectional survey in classroom settings using a questionnaire designed to measure 3 popular tobacco products and logos for 3 common commercial products (1 food, 1 beverage, and 1 restaurant brand) were conducted in primary schools at different regions nationwide. The students were instructed individually under the supervision of the researcher and their teachers about each logo with one of 6 products pictured on an A4 colored paper and the answers were recorded. Results: The sample consisted of 1,369 students, of whom 47.5% were girls. In general, overall tobacco recognition rate was much lower than other products reaching 53%, which was statistically significant (p=0.0001). Boys showed a higher recognition rate to cigarette brands than girls that was statistically significant (p=0.002). Conclusions: The majority of first-grade school children are familiar with tobacco brands. This study’s findings suggest that children are widely exposed to tobacco products and promotion. More effective regulations are needed to combat a generation of nicotine addicts.

A public health framework for the regulation of marketing.

Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental studies have found a link between youth exposure to cigarette marketing and youth initiation of smoking. These decisive research findings led to regulations of cigarette marketing to youth-including no television or radio ads, prohibitions on the use of cartoons, bans on transit and billboard advertisements, and disallowing tobacco brand sponsorships of sporting events or concerts. Similar products that may cause more harm than benefits include alcohol, electronic cigarettes, and opioids. We review the evidence linking problematic use of these products with exposure to marketing and discuss standards for assessing the potential harmfulness of marketing. We next address how public health agencies might apply regulatory principles to these harmful products similar to those applied to cigarette advertising, in the advancement of public health.

Combustible and Electronic Tobacco and Marijuana Products in Hip-Hop Music Videos, 2013-2017

Hip-hop is the leading music genre in the United States and its fan base includes a large proportion of adolescents and young adults of all racial and ethnic groups, particularly minorities. The appearance of combustible and electronic tobacco and marijuana products, especially brand placement and use by popular and influential artists, may increase the risk of tobacco and marijuana use and decrease perceptions of harm. To assess the prevalence of the appearance and use of combustible and electronic tobacco and marijuana products, including brand placement, in leading hip-hop songs. Analysis of top 50 songs from 2013 to 2017 of Billboard magazine's weekly Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs with videos that included the appearance or use of combustible tobacco and marijuana products (manufactured cigarettes, cigars, hookah or waterpipe, pipe, hand-rolled tobacco and marijuana products, marijuana buds); appearance of exhaled smoke or vapor without an identifiable source product; appearance or use of electronic tobacco and marijuana products (eg, electronic cigarettes); tobacco or marijuana brand placement; appearance or use of combustible and electronic tobacco and marijuana by main or featured artist. Data were collected from December 6, 2017, to June 4, 2018. Prevalence of (1) appearance or use of combustible tobacco and marijuana products, (2) appearance of smoke or vapor, (3) appearance or use of electronic tobacco and marijuana products, (4) tobacco or marijuana brand placement, and (5) appearance or use of combustible and electronic tobacco and marijuana by main or featured artist. Probability of appearance or use of combustible and electronic tobacco and marijuana products by quartile of viewership of videos. The proportion of leading hip-hop videos containing combustible use, electronic use, or smoke or vapor ranged from 40.2% (76 of 189) in 2015, to 50.7% (102 of 201) in 2016. For each year, the leading category of combustible use was hand-rolled products. The appearance of branded products increased from 0% in 2013 (0 of 82) to 9.9% in 2017 (10 of 101) for combustible products, and from 25.0% in 2013 (3 of 12) to 87.5% in 2017 (14 of 16) for electronic products. The prevalence of combustible or electronic product use or exhaled smoke or vapor increased by quartile of total number of views: 41.9% (8700 to 19 million views) among songs in the first quartile of viewership and 49.7% among songs in the fourth quartile of viewership (112 million to 4 billion views). Combustible and electronic tobacco and marijuana use frequently occurred in popular hip-hop music videos. The genre's broad appeal, use of branded products by influential artists, and rise of electronic product and marijuana use may contribute to a growing public health concern of tobacco and marijuana use.

Differences in nicotine dependence, smoke exposure and consumer characteristics between smokers of machine-injected roll-your-own cigarettes and factory-made cigarettes

BackgroundConsumption of machine-injected roll-your-own (RYO) filtered cigarettes made from pipe tobacco increased almost 7-fold from 2008 to 2011 in the United States. MethodsWe used data from the Pennsylvania Adult Smoking Study to compare the differences in sociodemographic, smoking topography, nicotine dependence, and cotinine levels between 280 smokers using factory made (FM) cigarettes and 68 smokers using RYO cigarettes. ResultsRYO smokers were older (41 vs. 37, P = 0.053), had significantly lower levels of income (P < 0.001) and education (P = 0.007), and were less likely to be fully employed (P = 0.009). RYO smokers consumed more cigarettes per day [CPD] (21 vs. 15, P < 0.001), and had a higher mean score on the Fagerström Test for Cigarette/Nicotine Dependence (5.2 vs. 4.1, P < 0.001). The main reasons for choosing RYO cigarettes were the lower cost (68%) and believed they are less harmful (12%). The average cost per pack of FM cigarettes was $5.74 vs. $1.13 for RYO. In multiple regression analyses, RYO smokers had significantly lower cotinine levels across all levels of CPD. Among smokers of king-size cigarettes, mean interpuff interval (P < 0.05) and total smoke duration (P < 0.01) per cigarette was significantly greater in RYO smokers. In laboratory measurements, RYO cigarettes contained more tobacco by weight than FM cigarettes, but weight varied by both tobacco and cigarette tube brands. ConclusionsMachine-injected RYO cigarettes made from pipe tobacco are cheaper than FM cigarettes but may have higher abuse liability. Smokers who might otherwise reduce their cigarette consumption or quit altogether may continue to smoke RYO cigarettes due to their affordability.

Major- and trace-element distribution in cigarette tobacco, ash and filters

To evidence the efficiency of cigarette filter we have determined the content of 27 major and trace elements in two brands of filter and filter-less cigarette tobacco, tobacco ash as well as new and spent filters. All measurements were performed by Epithermal Neutron Activation Analysis. We have found that the ash still contained between 71 and 86% of the initial amount of investigated elements excepting the more volatile As whose fraction represented only 28–32% of its original quantity. The possible implications of these findings were discussed.

Adolescent's Perception about the Introduction of New Cigarette Packaging and Plain Packaging of Cigarette Packs: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction:Larger health warning labels on cigarette packages were introduced in India in 2016 to more clearly inform consumers about the health risks associated with tobacco use. The aim of this study was to know the adolescent's perception on the introduction of new cigarette packaging and plain packaging of cigarette packs.Methodology:A qualitative study was carried out among adolescents aged 16–19 years. Eighteen participants were selected using purposive sampling technique. Three focus group discussions with thefirst group consisting of 6 smokers and the second and third groups consisted of 6 quit smokers and 6 nonsmokers were conducted. The data were later transcribed and analyzed using grounded theory approach.Results:Nearly all participants were aware of tobacco products, brand names, colors, and pictorial warnings on tobacco products. While the nonsmokers perceived fear was greater regarding warning and the pictorial messages, the current smoker's perceptions were unaffected by fear appeals. Almost all participants reported that new cigarette warning labels were more visible, informative, and scarier than the older ones.Conclusion:Positive impact of warning labels was seen among nonsmokers and few quit smokers whereas the current smoker's perceptions were unaffected.

Mogućnosti i ograničenja brendiranja duvanskih proizvoda u Republici Srbiji

Being an integral part of the intellectual capital, brand (alongside with knowledge, skills and the like) is the most valuable resource of the 21st century. Branded products have the highest market value and reputation. The branding process consists of several stages and it takes time and focus on the goal in order to create good-quality brand. Crucial precondition for brand development and survival is its successful positioning in the consciousness of consumers. In this paper we analyzed leading tobacco brands in the world and in Serbia, methods of their promotion, as well as social responsibility of tobacco companies, which has become especially important after the Law on Tobacco Products Advertising Restrictions had been passed on. Tobacco consumers in Serbia were asked about their opinion on the quality and price of cigarettes they consume, on the packaging design, and on how much they notice promo activities of the tobacco companies. In addition to theoretical research referring to relevant literature, an empirical research was also applied, i.e. survey on tobacco products and tobacco companies. Based on a comprehensive analysis we've reached a conclusion that tobacco companies, due to legal limitations, are in such a position that they have to think of a strategy they will use to position themselves in the best possible light in the minds of the consumers. Likewise, the analysis has showed that companies are successfully finding their way to consumers by using commercial campaigns, but that they should put more effort in investing in and insisting on social responsibility that will undoubtedly have the largest impact on brand creation in the future.

Sales Trends in Price-Discounted Cigarettes, Large Cigars, Little Cigars, and Cigarillos-United States, 2011-2016.

Tobacco manufacturers continue to implement a range of pricing strategies to increase the affordability and consumption of tobacco products. To demonstrate the extent of retail- and brand-level price discounts at the point of sale, this study assessed national sales trends in price-discounted cigarettes, large cigars, little cigars, and cigarillos. Retail scanner data for tobacco product sales were obtained for convenience stores (C-store) and all-other-outlets-combined (AOC) from September 25, 2011, to January 9, 2016. The proportion of price-discounted sales, average nondiscounted unit price, and average discounted unit price were examined by product category and brand. JoinPoint regression was used to assess average monthly percentage change. Overall, price-discounted sales accounted for 11.3% of cigarette, 3.4% of large cigar, 4.1% of little cigar, and 3.9% of cigarillo sales. The average difference between nondiscounted and discounted prices was 25.5% (C-store) and 36.7% (AOC) for cigarettes; 11.0% (C-store) and 11.2% (AOC) for large cigars; 19.2% (C-store) and 9.6% (AOC) for little cigars; and 5.3% (C-store) and 14.7% (AOC) for cigarillos. Furthermore, price-discounted sales of top-selling tobacco brands comprised up to 36% of cigarette, 7.4% of large cigar, 7.7% of little cigar, and 4.2% of cigarillo unit sales. These findings highlight the use of price discounts by tobacco manufacturers to reduce the cost of cigarettes, large cigars, little cigars, and cigarillos to consumers. These sales patterns underscore the importance of sustained efforts to implement evidence-based strategies to increase prices and reduce availability and consumption of combustible tobacco in the United States. This study highlights the prevalence and provides a baseline of price-discounted cigarettes, large cigars, little cigars, and cigarillos. Surveillance of tobacco sales data, including state-level trends and additional product types, is critical for informing approaches to reduce tobacco consumption. These approaches include countering tobacco product price-discounting practices and raising and maintaining a high sales price for all tobacco products. The implementation of evidence-based population-level interventions, together with local, state, and federal regulation of tobacco products, could prevent tobacco initiation, increase tobacco cessation, and reduce overall tobacco use among US youth and adults.