(image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 18 (Korea Bizwire) — According to a study, one in eight people buy cigarettes on impulse after viewing cigarette advertisements or cigarette packs on display at convenience stores.
Moreover, the same study showed that 1.9 percent of non-smokers had purchased cigarettes on impulse.
The study, carried out by Prof. Cho Seong-il and his team at Seoul National University, surveyed 1,047 youth and adults at five convenience stores in the Gangnam region of Seoul.
Of the respondents, 12.9 percent said that they had bought cigarettes on impulse after seeing a cigarette ad at a convenience store or the cigarette products themselves on display shelves.
The study also showed that the higher the number of visits by respondents, the higher the chance of them buying cigarettes impulsively.
People who visited convenience stores five times per week on average were found to be 12.4 times more likely to make impulsive purchases than those whose visits numbered just once or twice a week.
“The results that show a significant number of impulsive purchases of cigarettes signify that ads and product placement can affect purchasing patterns regardless of whether one is a smoker or not,” said Prof. Cho.
In contrast to tobacco producers’ claims that ads and product placement simply provide information to consumers, the study confirms that ads and products actually facilitate the sales of cigarette products.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
