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Graphic images on cig packs from next year
BillieTheBot
Posts: 8,721 Bot
Starting next year, this could be on the back of cigarette packets.
If anyone feels offended by me showing this picture, I apologise unreservedly. It is not my intention. The Department for Health are currently looking into the warnings on packets of cigarettes. According to the BBC: "The public are being asked to choose a series of picture warnings to appear on cigarette packets from next year. People can give their opinion on a range of images designed to highlight the dangers of smoking on a website set up by the Department of Health. Evidence shows that images have a greater impact than written health warnings alone, and they have already been introduced in some countries. Images include diseased lungs, a dying smoker and a foetus in the womb." >> Details >>
Interesting suggestion. Let me declare now that I don't smoke. I don't particularly like smoking, but I don't especially mind if those around me choose to do it. However, why is the Government doing this? Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt explains: "We have already made a lot of progress with the stark written warnings on cigarette packs. However, these messages become less effective over time so we now need to refresh our approach by introducing new hard-hitting images. We know that these type of warnings have already been successful in other countries such as Canada, Singapore and Brazil."
Fair enough, but what happens when the latest set of pictures become "less effective over time". What do you replace them with then? Would this put you off smoking? Or is it now time to accept there is a "hardcore" of smokers out there who will never give up?
If anyone feels offended by me showing this picture, I apologise unreservedly. It is not my intention. The Department for Health are currently looking into the warnings on packets of cigarettes. According to the BBC: "The public are being asked to choose a series of picture warnings to appear on cigarette packets from next year. People can give their opinion on a range of images designed to highlight the dangers of smoking on a website set up by the Department of Health. Evidence shows that images have a greater impact than written health warnings alone, and they have already been introduced in some countries. Images include diseased lungs, a dying smoker and a foetus in the womb." >> Details >>
Interesting suggestion. Let me declare now that I don't smoke. I don't particularly like smoking, but I don't especially mind if those around me choose to do it. However, why is the Government doing this? Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt explains: "We have already made a lot of progress with the stark written warnings on cigarette packs. However, these messages become less effective over time so we now need to refresh our approach by introducing new hard-hitting images. We know that these type of warnings have already been successful in other countries such as Canada, Singapore and Brazil."
Fair enough, but what happens when the latest set of pictures become "less effective over time". What do you replace them with then? Would this put you off smoking? Or is it now time to accept there is a "hardcore" of smokers out there who will never give up?
Beep boop. I'm a bot.
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Comments
Fuck off people tbh. We have freedom of choice, don't we? If I chose to smoke, why am I not allowed? It is MY body. And more to the point... this will just piss me off. Yes, they will become less effective over time. The big writing at the moment is a joke.
In a way, this is degrading the poor person who is dead. The image of them, dead, will become a joke. It won't put people off. They'll just not look at the fag packet much anymore.
Will they put people who die of alcohol poisoning on cans of beer? No. So why are fags different? Drinkers die younger too.
It doesn't matter anyway, most of the fags I get are foreign one's, the warnings are all in Polish or some shit.
they wawnt people to stop for health reasons so feel duty bound to warn them.
but they love reaping in the taxes they get from evry pack of cigarettes sold.
tbh i think the uk is too much of a 'nanny state.'
I smoke because i enjoy it, if it ends up killing me, i cant say noone ever warned me.
I aint gonna smoke forever tho, i'll have stopped by the time im 30.
I think most people realise that the most hardcore smokers will not quit, but if some of the others quit as a result then the end may justify the means.
Of course I do have some reservations about using photos on the packs themselves, but eh... I'm not fussed.
Damn them to hell the nanny state meddlers.
Smoking is bad, the govt is rightly trying to discourage it, these tactics have been shown to work, it isn't rocket science is it?
Does the money from the tax pay off the money the NHS spend treating smoking related illness?
I don't smoke but I'm pretty sure that picture would put me off if I did.
Adult illiteracy is actually higher in the UK than most people think so in many ways it would be fairer to give a photo as well or instead of just a written warning.
These are my favourite fag pack photos I've seen so far:
Smoking causes sexual impotence:
They also have one with a dead foetus on it that says smoking when pregnant increases you risk of miscarriage which is by far the worst image they use.
I'm fairly intelligent. I know smokers can die younger. I know it makes your lungs all skanky. I know it increases the risk of getting various diseases.
I don't need some picture on a packet to tell me that. It's like they think people who smoke, smoke because they don't realise the risks?! Maybe if your like 6 or something.
And i don't think it'd put much kiddys off smoking. They mainly do it out of curiousity or to fit in with the crowd. Don't think a pic of dead person is gonna make much diff.
Yeah but thats hurting other people. If you smoke your mainly hurting yourself.
Aye. Some studies have said no effect, others say laot.
Who knows.
Yeah but second hand smoking is a completely different issue.
Looking at a dead bloke on a fag packet is not gonna make me think about the fact other people are breathing in my smoke, or the fact i'm hurting myself.
Looking at someone thats innocently died as a result of drink driving is gonna make me not drink and drive though. I could kill loads of people if i was pissed in my car, theres a world of difference to me.
If you want to smoke cancer sticks then that's your choice.
I fail to understand why the government is so keen to combat smoking when it produces a large revenue for them to waste. I just think there should be public awareness about the dangers of smoking, especially at school and to mmake it seem uncool, which it is.
If not then I don't see the point in it.
That said, Id also be curious if that isnt a photo from a house or building fire used as propaganda.