It has only been recent have I realised that the black enclosed shelves behind the newsagents and service stations actually hold the plain packaging for cigarettes for sale. I am annoyed that I missed this significant change in legislation against the legal battle with cigarette companies as other parts of my life consumed my time. Although I must admit I unconsciously have wondered, as I aimlessly waited in queue to pay for my petrol, why their counters had looked so empty and if they had in fact actually sold out of smokes…
Once upon a time I worked the cigarette counter at Coles supermarket. A significant cash cow for any store as twice a day we re-stocked the lightly lit glass cabinets with boxes of cigarettes and manually changed their prices for weekly specials. I soon became accustomed to the brands, flavours, strength and variety that customers bought. However as a non-smoker where any puff would set off a smoke alarm, I would wonder how and when did smokers try different brands to find the one that would become their brand that they buy for rest of their smoking life. Like a fresh first year university student when I would relish the freedom of ordering a beer at the campus club, I would only ask for a “pot of VB thanks.” No, not because I LOVE VB but because a little embarrassingly it was the only brand I really knew. I was not a beer drinker and had no idea what flavours were really in the market. It was just the one I knew. Thankfully 14 years on I have graduated to other beers.
Are the initial exposure to cigarettes the same? For instance if my parents had smoked Winnie Blues, what would be the odds of my first cigarette also being a stolen Winnie Blue. Now as of 2012 as the government removes all colours and branding even the I become nostalgic for the Australian icon of stubbies, VB and packet of Winnie Blues.
