Tobacco warning pictures launched

[Posted: Sun 01/06/2008 by Olivia Fens]

Graphic images of smoking-related diseases such as throat cancer and tooth decay, which will soon be on cigarette packs across Ireland, were displayed at a conference this week in Dublin.

The conference ‘Working together towards a tobacco-free society’ displayed 14 pictorial health warnings picked by the Department of Health. The decision by the Government, to introduce graphic photographic warnings onto cigarette packs, was welcomed at the conference

Fifteen countries have pictorial warnings and many countries have made such images mandatory on all tobacco products. Pictorial warnings will be introduced on tobacco products in the UK this year.

Luk Joossens, from the Association of European Cancer Leagues told the conference that pictorial images were an essential component of tobacco control.

Canada introduced the pictorial warnings in 2001 and was the first country to introduce pictorial warnings. A survey in 2002 showed that three-quarters of Canadians supported the labels, which are effective at discouraging smokers.

Mr Joossens said the images were such a potent deterrent that Canada’s smoking rates dropped from 17% to 9% in 2006.

“44% of those Canadians that quit said that such images motivated them to stop smoking,” he said.

“Pictures say more than 1,000 words. Images tend to be most effective when they convey shock,” Mr Joossens said.

“They are not only eye catching, but they can be informative,” he said. “Most people are unaware of the full health risks tobacco smoking can cause.”

Mr Joossens added that the pictures also help to change the image of smoking, making it less ‘cool’.

The conference, which was held in the Mansion House in Dublin, was organised by Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, in association with a number of partners, including the HSE, the Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Heart Foundation, and ASH Ireland.

alo  Posted: 01/06/2008 22:33

Hi, I do not agree with this practice, very few will take a blind bit of notice. A better deterrent would be for people to walk into any of the hospitals and see first hand what smoking can and will do to you.

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