Cigarette packets to carry shocking images

Anything that tries to dissuade smoking is good in my book. This is a welcome measure.

So what’s the plan? The government have decided that the textual warnings just aren’t cutting the proverbial mustard and have stepped up their game with adding lurid images. The packets will be getting a wide range of off-putting imagery – 15 in total. One includes a healthy pair of lungs beside a cancer ridden pair. Not nice. Another shows someone’s open mouth with some rather black rotting teeth telling the viewer that cigarettes can contain benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde, and nitrogen cyanide! Some images include real people going through bad times with smoking related illnesses.

The cigarette companies only have to show 1 image on their packets by the end of next year. I think that’s a bit poor. They should randomise the full range of images. That would certainly bring a whole new concept to the collection cards that cigarettes of yesteryear used to include in them. “Collect all 15 ways to die and we’ll send you a free epitaph book”

Now as we all know this is certainly going to make all new and old smokers have a think. Obviously it’s the former that will be affected most. If the pictures can deter the younger generation from starting/continuing smoking then this will be a very valid campaign indeed. This with the smoking age going up to 18 from 16 (in England and Wales) soon is a step in the right direction.

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