The 1960s were a time of lies and child exploitation. They told us that by the time we grew up we would only be working three or four days a week and having longer weekends. They also led us to believe that we would have hovercars, voice operated computers, tiny personal communication devices and clean energy. It’s your choice whether you blame the government or Gerry Anderson for the lies (the two were interchangeable for me in the 1960s).
We do, to be fair, have voice operated computers (even if they don’t always recognise a regional accent) and the small personal communication devices (even if they are getting bigger). However, the diminution of my working week has been caused by economics rather than increasing leisure. And my car is firmly on the ground, driving through potholes, and is definitely not powered by clean energy.
But all that pales into insignificance compared to sweet cigarettes. Kids were encouraged to play at smoking (and, as you will note from the photos, Gerry Anderson was involved again). They seem innocent enough but research shows that there is a correlation between the use of sweet cigarettes as a child and smoking as an adult, with users of sweet cigarettes being more likely to smoke real cigarettes as adults.
It’s all very cynical when you look into it, even by the standards of people who peddle sugar and nicotine.
However, it’s now illegal to sell sweet cigarettes in many countries. Progress? Well, let’s just say that as sweet cigarettes were made illegal, a product known as candy sticks hit the market.
The pictures are, of course, the reason I am writing this. They are the slides from packets of 1960s and 70s sweet cigarettes. You don’t see them often, and several of them made over £20. Even the dull ones made £5. It makes you wish you’d saved more of your childhood detritus, doesn’t it.
