Igloo has just started working on some tactical projects for Quit Victoria. This has opened our eyes to some crazy statistics around smoking. We all know its bad, but we thought it worthwhile pointing out the reality behind a few myths that were floating around the studio before we got the inside info.
Myth 1
More girls smoke than guys.
In reality, more males smoke than females. Whilst both have generally been in decline over the last 10 years, the gap is closing and interestingly, the percentage of female smokers in the last year has climbed. Kids are also smoking less so our good old y-gen who want it all, also seem to want good health.
Myth 2
Tobacco companies aren’t allowed to spend to promote smoking in Australia.
Unfortunately, the banning of visible advertising has just meant tobacco companies need to be a bit more cunning in the way they encourage us to smoke. Since the banning of smoking in pubs, bars and restaurants came into effect, the ciggie companies have been sponsoring a number of those cool outdoor areas, rooftops, beer garden. Read this article in the Age. Yep, some of those cool bars have been a tad uncool in the way they have been decking out their venues.
Myth 3
If you stop smoking, you will put on weight.
Sorry, folks. Can’t use that line. A recent study done by Uni NSW and Melbourne UNI found that having a few ciggies a day “does not keep fat off and could result in too much fat being stored in areas dangerous to health” According to the study, many young women start smoking in the belief that they will lower their weight. For inspiration, check out sites like Christy Turlington Burns. That said, a lot of people do find that they eat to fill the void of that habit of smoking. That’s cool, just try eating something that isn’t high in fat!
Myth 4
Low tar ciggies are safer.
Unfortunately (if you do like to smoke) this just ain’t the case. All cigarettes are bad whilst low-tar cigarettes “can be slightly less damaging to your lungs over a long period of time, people who smoke these have been shown to take deeper puffs, puff more frequently and smoke the cigarettes to a shorter butt length.”
Myth 5
Awesome creative directors need to smoke
Ok, so my favorite hero of all time (at the moment), Draper and his whole team suck back on countless darts whilst rolling out awesome creative for big global brands before spending his time (smoking) with various mistresses at lunch and then going home to one hot (ex) wife. And despite that fact that there are ace looking flickr groups, movie stars do it, rockstars do it, hell, even half of igloo can’t shake it, my respect goes to awesome people who you think would smoke, if it’s that cool, but don’t.
