SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1976
STP27875S

Child-Resistant Packaging and Consumer Reaction

Source

In spite of heavy pressure from some consumer activist groups urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to faster, broader, and more stringent action, an increasing number of consumers are confused, unaware, or antagonistic to the spread of more child-resistant packaging. Some feel child safety is a parent-adult responsibility, not a government or industry sole responsibility. Increasingly, the feeling arises that all safety requirements should be a joint responsibility of the producer, retailer, government regulation, and consumer buyer.

Resentment over what they feel is a current government attitude that it knows what is best for all of us comes out in many consumer letters and verbal statements. Consumers feel that they should be given a chance to speak up effectively before the CPSC requires new safety standards for any product. They want to know what the “trade off” will be in higher cost, lower convenience, or the loss of the right to free choice. What the consumers are saying is: “make the packaging child resistant, if we must, but do not make it Grandma proof.”

Author Information

Dana, M
Consumer Attitudes, and syndicated columnist, Chalfont, Pa.
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Details
Developed by Committee: D10
Pages: 89–95
DOI: 10.1520/STP27875S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4683-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0300-9