tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830084253401570472.post3093994083367993623..comments2024-03-28T09:22:36.967+13:00Comments on Offsetting Behaviour: Plain Packaging and EvidenceEric Cramptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15831696523324469713noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830084253401570472.post-83034909330625799242012-11-03T01:00:43.660+13:002012-11-03T01:00:43.660+13:00Crossweave Tape are very useful in getting package...<a href="http://www.thepackagingsite.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=101_106" rel="nofollow">Crossweave Tape</a> are very useful in getting package sealed properly.San Mahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830084253401570472.post-79564736193565399832012-10-13T09:40:43.029+13:002012-10-13T09:40:43.029+13:00Will definitely agree that it's possible to se...Will definitely agree that it's possible to set up plain packaging so that it induces counterfeiting. And the slippery slope does seem likely.Eric Cramptonhttp://offsettingbehaviour.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830084253401570472.post-3898866420822963072012-10-13T06:44:20.769+13:002012-10-13T06:44:20.769+13:00Eric, I get what you're saying (and notwithsta...Eric, I get what you're saying (and notwithstanding the comment you left at mine), but the whole idea is to make ALL the packs the same, to remove any brand identity whatsoever and to destroy the premium brand market. It's step one in a series of planned moves designed to have the state completely legislate what goes in a cigarette how they can be sold. Embossing with secret codes and alphanumeric strings doesn't change that. Nothing changes that. You could insist on RFID tags (also easily copied) in every legit pack and you still have a plain pack that looks just like everything else. <br /><br />The main function of plain packs is to hurt tobacco companies' profits whilst also taking away a consumer's brand identity. The tobacco control industry admits this when they do presentations for their own (I've blogged it), but shy away from this when they are lobbying governments to implement plain packs. Any sort of technological anti-counterfeiting device does not change the primary purpose of plain packaging and probably makes the situation worse for consumers, who would pay even more for un-branded pack with hidden bells and whistles. <br /><br />Advocates for plain packaging can say and make up whatever rules they like. If we let them, we lose a lot more than a trade mark on a packet of fags.Jayhttp://nannyingtyrants.blogspot.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830084253401570472.post-41812161952417010412012-10-12T13:15:35.214+13:002012-10-12T13:15:35.214+13:00Again, I am absolutely no fan of plain packaging. ...Again, I am absolutely no fan of plain packaging. But why wouldn't a sincere plain packs advocate then not simply say "Great idea. We'll run embossing on the plain packs too. A different embossed product code for each brand and for each product; the product code would be a random letter string in specified font or maybe repeated Morse code versions of the product name.Eric Cramptonhttp://offsettingbehaviour.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830084253401570472.post-4068385196559932932012-10-12T12:38:05.629+13:002012-10-12T12:38:05.629+13:00Yes, some packs are easy to counterfeit. But more ...Yes, some packs are easy to counterfeit. But more importantly, some are incredibly difficult to counterfeit, particularly superslim packs, but also some proper premium brands. Which is why the counterfeiters don't bother with them. Counterfeiters will only risk doing the most popular (Marlboro packs or Golden Virginia hand rolling tobacco) because it's worth it. Those are relatively easy to copy. But what about Vogue? Never gets counterfeited. (See http://nannyingtyrants.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/plain-packs-will-harm-women-who-smoke.html for why... and then I hope you'll understand what I mean by looking at the pics)<br /><br />And plain packs will make it far, far easier to counterfeit brands they never could be bothered to do before -- Vogue or Dunhill International, for instance. See, suddenly all brands will be able to be counterfeited, not just the popular ones.<br /><br />Tobacco controllers know this and they want this to happen. It suits their aims in making every cigarette the same. Not all cigarettes are the same. Not all cigarette packs are the same, some are different by necessity, such as superslims and demi-slims. By forcing the pack designs into only one allowable size (which is the true aim of plain packs), they seek to obliterate brands from existence.<br /><br />It's more than just that. Tobacco controllers *want* the illicit market to increase so they can clamour for illegalisation of all tobacco products. So plain packs plus increasing taxes certainly does increase the illicit market. As more smokers turn to the illicit market, that means more smokers are "criminals" and that makes it easier for tobacco controllers to enact further legislation against smokers and tobacco companies.<br /><br />It's a set up. It's "plain" as day. But everyone is distracted with "protect the children." And anyone who believes that plain packs will protect even one child is a moron or a liar.Jayhttp://nannyingtyrants.blogspot.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830084253401570472.post-70182329470596939072012-10-12T12:21:38.923+13:002012-10-12T12:21:38.923+13:00If that's the case, though, then can't the...If that's the case, though, then can't the counterfeit existing packs?Eric Cramptonhttp://offsettingbehaviour.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830084253401570472.post-44271543971410473302012-10-12T11:56:49.117+13:002012-10-12T11:56:49.117+13:00I'm not convinced that hologram or any anti-co...I'm not convinced that hologram or any anti-counterfeiting measure will work. All it takes is a machine to print them, which can be obtained by anyone. I've seen counterfeit software packages with holograms on them years back. Trust me, it's not a obstacle. Besides, the tobacco controllers already believe that tobacco companies have special hidden marks and stuff on their packs. But they don't. They're manufacturing codes.Jayhttp://nannyingtyrants.blogspot.co.uk/noreply@blogger.com