Far too many times have I heard smokers complaining about the inconveniently long length of the average cigarette - not only do many smokers often not have the time to finish a cigarette, many times they don't even want to finish it - but they do as they don't want to 'waste' the rest.
So aside from the insidious possibility that tobacco companies want smokers to force themselves to further damage their lungs, why isn't there a company out there making shorter cigarettes? If a company were to manufacture half-size cigarettes (perhaps with double the number of them per pack), they could probably charge more per pack and still sell at a quick pace. Plus, since I don't get the impression smokers smoke less frequently due to the length of their cigarettes, the end result of the current length of cigarette is simply more secondhand smoke for everyone else - manufacturing shorter cigarettes as a public service?
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The same notion applies to buying a pack versus buying cigarettes in smaller denomination. I have heard many smokers complain about having to buy a pack of 20-30 cigarettes when they actually want about 5 to, maybe, last them during a weekend on vacation. There is a market for smaller denomination packs, or even loose cigarettes (sell 1 at a time). A cigarette vending machine (couple quarters a pop) oughta do it. Better than bumming a smoke out of a passerby. There are people who end up not buying because they don't want 20 cigarettes sitting around tempting them.
Everybody's happy this way: the casual smoker, the manufacturers, and the passerby!
Cigarette companies in Canada tried to market smaller packs of cigarettes and they were quickly labelled 'kiddie packs' because a lot of kids bought them. They were cheaper and easier to hide from their parents. Advocates against smoking and the government then began to accuse the cigarette manufacturers of specifically marketing to kids. The result? They no longer exist.
Cigarette companies are in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation right now. If they marketed smaller 'half' cigarettes, the same accusations would likely be raised. They could counter with 'smoking less means better health'... but I'm afraid they would lose even that.
Would smokers buy half-size cigarettes? We will likely never know...
I was actually searching the internet to see if these things are marketed because I have been wanting to buy them for some time now. I think it's a great idea. And it would be sweet because they have them in the Fifth Element. I think it would cut down drastically on my smoking and I wouldn't mind paying the extra money for them. I do, however, understand the marketing to children situation. Oh well, what is a smoker to do. I know... quit.
I think they're called lady cigarettes. It's thinner and contain less tobacco.
I think this is a good idea because being a smoker, I sometimes never finsh my cigarette or I dont have time to finish one. So having a smaller cigarette would likely be the best for people on the go.
half-size cigarettes are very efficient for half-size persons.. uhmm,, sounds good to me.. but lets be sure that price is also half-size.. hahaha.
This wouldn't work, because it would assist people in quitting. :/
there are cigarettes of shorter length in india, not half the size of avg length but 7/10th and 8/10th of the avg length.
I believe Marlboro 72s are an attempt at that. I agree with several of the comments here.
I'll tell you I'm actually pretty happy about CVS's targeted advertising - whenever I buy a pack of cigarettes there and use my Extra Care Card, I get a coupon for Nicorette. I do appreciate that.
You can always roll your own.
Skid row liquor stores in the inner cities often sell cigarettes individually to vagrants, winos, etc. They keep them in a tray on the counter.