Short cuts Smokers are being 'duped' by 'light' cigarette brands

The Health Education Authority has called for a ban on the use of terms such as 'light', 'ultra' and 'mild' in relation to cigarettes, following a survey that found one in five smokers thought they reduced their risk of lung cancer and heart disease. HEA smoking campaign manager Steve Woodward said smokers were being 'duped' because 'light' brands gave low tar readings on measuring machines, but smokers took deeper drags or inhaled more frequently to get more nicotine. The survey also found that just 33 per cent of those surveyed could identify 3mg as a low tar yield, while 46 per cent thought it was average or higher than average.