Cigarette packet warnings are no smoke screen
There is a popular misconception about the purpose of putting grisly images on cigarette packets.
Most people think the aim is to remind smokers that tobacco is bad for their health and could, ultimately, put them into an early grave.
This is why so many people are sceptical about whether the photos that will appear on packets in the UAE from August will have any affect.
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One of the images that will go on cigarette packets in the UAE in August
After all, can there surely be a single smoker in the UAE who is not aware of the dangers?
In truth, the real purpose is not to target individuals per se but to change the culture of the country. The aim is to make smoking socially unacceptable.
And to this purpose, the images are a good step forward. People will feel more awkward producing a packet in a crowded bar if it is plastered with a photo of a diseased lung, as has happened in some countries, than trendy colours and swish writing.
No they won't stop individuals smoking on their own, but the collective response from society might.
Simon Pluckrose is Head of News at Al Sidra Media LLC, the publisher of 7DAYSinDubai.com, 7DAYSinAbuDhabi.com and the newspaper 7DAYS
Comments
by Marivic Saplala
Thursday, May 24 2012, 2:34AM
“Though I am totally not a smoker, but some of my friends are admittedly saying that , smoking is truly a hard habit to break. Hopefully, this new ad campaign will help them in a way to stop them slowly to quit.”
by Doc Khan
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 6:17PM
“i agreed totally with the above comments , and the picture you posted is horribly good. i hope it affects smokers and passive smokers as well, because its the passive smokers who encourage them (well its my opinion),i wouldnt join a company if someone there is smoking. In my opinion smoking should be banned . i hated it when i move along with my baby and people don't care for even babies .
i request all of them out there to quit smoking, its NEVER too late. this picture only shows your hands , its worst inside ,leaving you in pulmonary carcinoma.”
by Angela Nath
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 1:29PM
“I think this is definitely a good way to stop individuals from smoking .it may not happen overnight but surely if they buy packs of cigarettes with diseased pictures on them everyday,that's a sure way of putting you off smoking.ladies ,who smoke, are you listening???”
by Ruel Janas
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 11:55AM
“Hope thru this images all smokers will be aware of the effects of the cigarettes. They should be considerate to other people's health. Because more people are suffering lung cancer due to second hand smoker, it's really sad to suffer in this kind of disease if you're not a smoker. I really pity on my aunt who is a victim of this disease, she's in final stage of lung cancer now, we just hold on to our faith and prayers for her... Hope that all the smoker's will be aware of the effect of cigarettes if they don't care about their health atleast they must be considerate to others...”