All cigarettes are deadly
Many people believe that smoking tobacco with descriptors such as ‘light’ and ‘mild’ is less harmful to health compared with smoking regular tobacco. However, 'light' and 'mild' cigarettes are not safer to smoke. The tar and nicotine content of ‘light’ cigarettes is comparable to regular cigarettes and ‘light’ cigarettes may deliver more carbon monoxide than regular cigarettes.
The terms ‘light’ and ‘mild’ are being phased out in New Zealand as a result of a Commerce Commission warning in September 2008. In other countries where this has happened, the tobacco industry has replaced light and mild with other descriptions. These are just as misleading. For example, a ‘smooth’ cigarette is as poisonous as any other cigarette.
