Whats the deal with Marlboro "Gold Pack" analogs?

[WebGuy]

I noticed in my quest to get off analogs that my old favorite, Marlboro Light isn't called "Light" anymore. Now it is called "Gold Pack".

Now, let me preface my next thoughts by stating that I *did* read the forum rules and this is NOT an attempt at sparking a political debate, there are plenty of forums to debate left -vs- right. That's not what my question is about.

Here goes. I've asked around and have heard conflicting stories on why Lights are now called "Gold". The most often response I am getting is that this was Obama's idea or at the very least, Government doing. Doesn't seem like a move the tobacco companies would make on their own.

Anybody have any insight?

Keep in mind, I am not looking for Obama bashing OR worshiping, I just want to know if anyone knows if this rumor is true or not, or basically who was behind the "Lights are now Golds" idea.

Anyone?

 

[JC Okie]

I read somewhere that they could no longer refer to some as "light".....because that didn't say much, in the first place, and that it was misleading, at best. So the changed to the colors. Probably some regulation they're having to comply with....makes sense. Probably has nothing to do with Obama....other than possibly some agency told them they couldn't call cigarettes "light" when it implied something that wasn't true. I can't find where I read that....you could google it. Probably come up with something.....hmmmmm. BTW, welcome fellow Okie. I'm in Tulsa. Been vaping for a little over 3 months....successfully! Absolutely loving it.

 

[t9c]

Yep. It's called the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
which btw, was pushed through by Obama and Bush vowed to veto if it hit his desk.

 

[Big Hitter]

What would be his motive for this move ??

Although I don't think the camel lights say light on them either anymore. I think they are camel blues now ??

Hmm... I smell a conspiracy .... Mulder, Scully, Smoking Man ??? Are you on here?

 

[Rosa]

Yeah, they changed the rules around packaging or something. I think they did a study and found that "light" smokers will either smoke more or hold the cigarette in such a way that it wasn't actually "light" anymore (like putting their fingers around the little holes they put in the filter and smoking two at a time or something).

Basically, they decided the word "light" made smokers think they aren't going to die if they choose the "light" smokes, when we all know that's not true and "light" isn't healthy for you any more that the regular ones are.

FWIW: if someone gave me a "light" cig I always ripped the filter off and smoked it as a straight.

 

[jmaul99]

Actually it was the FDA's idea. Someone or group at the FDA felt the term light or extra light implied a cigarette was safer. Just shows how dumb government bureaucrats think we are. I've never met a smoker or former smoker that felt light or extra light meant a cigarette was safer. The terms were only referring to the flavor. Its just a way for the government to say there helping to reduce smoking deaths and underage smoking. Interestingly enough the percentage of smokers actually increased in 2009 for the first time in over 40 years. Some of this was probably due to the economy more so than the new regulations. Just an interesting statistic.

 

[JC Okie]

We should tell them that the cool "colors" appeal more to children...........jerks.

 

[WebGuy]

So basically, the government thinks the American people are a bunch of ......s? THAT's comforting. LOL

 

[Sgt.Taz]

So basically, the government thinks the American people are a bunch of ......s? THAT's comforting. LOL

Well we do have an awful lot of "sheeple" running round.

 

[harmony]

The same thing happened with my newport lights. I was ...... cuz the OCD part of me wasn't happy with the fact that the little imprint on the cigs changed. I even was imagining that they tasted different.
Oh well, I have bid farewell for today at least and they can package that crap however they want for all I care.

 

[Travis798]

What? Omg, you guys are actually going to try to tell me that my lights weren't safer than full flavor? They are called LIGHTS people. They were light on tar. They were safer. So somebody tells you guys that they are just as dangerous as full flavor and you buy into it.. Geeze, some people will believe anything.



Okay, I'm kidding. Seriously, I know the lights were bad for you... thats why I switched to pall mall blues... blues can't be bad for you... I mean, blue is a pretty color! right?

 

[Rosa]

I even was imagining that they tasted different.

...or maybe they did.... I have this paranoid delusion that every time they change the packaging they add something to make them more addictive too. Is it just me?

 

[harmony]

...or maybe they did.... I have this paranoid delusion that every time they change the packaging they add something to make them more addictive too. Is it just me?

No I dont think it is just you. I swore they tasted stale. I even exchanged a carton. I was so peeved when they changed. It was such a ritual that I counted on them looking the same. I called the newport company and asked them if they changed all of the packaging. It made me insane.

 

[StormFinch]

Ultra light smokers would have also noticed that those disappeared for the most part. The FDA might not be able to close down cigarette manufacturers but they can certainly make them jump though hoops.

 

[NinetyNine]

Let me google that for you

Honestly, with a name like Webguy you'd expect this to be a less painful process.

 

[myrc60]

No I dont think it is just you. I swore they tasted stale. I even exchanged a carton. I was so peeved when they changed. It was such a ritual that I counted on them looking the same. I called the newport company and asked them if they changed all of the packaging. It made me insane.

Are you certain the change in taste wasn't because of FSC? FSC changed the smell of the smoke and the taste of them as well.

 

[harmony]

Are you certain the change in taste wasn't because of FSC? FSC changed the smell of the smoke and the taste of them as well.

What is FSC?
After a couple of days they tasted the same to me. I thought it was just my imagination though.

 

[Travis798]

FSC= Fire Safe Cigarettes. It's the crap they added to them to make them taste worse and make you smoke like a mad man in fear that it would go out in between drags.

 

[Bozzlite]

Yep, thats it. The FDA thought smokers would think that a cig labeled "light" or "ultra light" would give make them think it was a safer cigarette. They went on to say that "light" smokers actually inhaled harder and deeper to make up for the less nicotine and tar. While that may be true for a few smokers, I don't think that was the case for me. I smoked Basic Lights at the end, but years ago I smoked full "flavor" Marlboro 100's.

The tobacco companys have adapted by changing the color of the packages. Apparently, the darker the package, the stronger the cig. So lights have evolved to "Gold" packs and ultra lights have white packages.

To me this seems like its making the problem worse, because a newbie smoker won't know the difference between a high tar and nic cig and a low tar and nic cig. Of course, to the FDA, they are the same.

That is also why you never saw the nic and tar content listed on a pack of cigs. Against FDA regs. They assumed that a smoker would go for the heavy load for more total smoking satisfaction. Or go for the lower tar and nic for a safer cig. Is there something contradictory here?

You can't find the alcohol content on a can of beer....against FDA regs. But on a bottle of whiskey, vodka, or tequila, alcohol content is required by law. Here we go again.

Cigarettes have been proven to be unsafe but you can still buy them. E-cigs have not been proven to be safe so they might want to ban or regulate them.
Doh.

 

[Travis798]

Well personally, I do inhale deeply and hold it in my lungs when smoking a light.. Of course, I do that with any and all cigarettes, including non filters. That even happens to be the way I take a hit off my e-cig. Omg, maybe my 36mg juice is light? I better start going for 48.......