Public supports graphic cig warnings

[Posted: Wed 12/09/2012 by Niall Hunter, Editor www.irishhealth.com]

Three out of four people are in favour of the Government's plans to introduce graphic disease photos on cigarette packs from next year.

It is planned that all tobacco products placed on the market in Ireland on or after February 1, 2013 must have graphic photo warnings which show damage that can be caused by diseases and conditions related to smoking.

Recently, a new Australian law removing brand colours from cigarette packs and including graphic images of smoking-related conditions was upheld by the courts there.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland, with some 6,000 fatalities annually – that's more than 20 times the number of people who die each year in road traffic accidents.

We asked readers whether they agreed with plans to include graphic photos on cigarette packs.

Seventy five per cent said yes, 15% said no, while 10% were unsure.

View the poll results and comments, and the results of previous polls,here