Shock pictures won’t scare us, say pro-smoking group

An example of one of the new picture warnings on cigarette packets.

Smokers will have to face the disturbing images of throat cancer, rotting teeth and diseased lungs every time they buy a pack of cigarettes from today (Wednesday 1 October).

The pictures will replace the written warnings on packets and are the next stage in the government’s initiative to shock smokers into quitting.

But pro-smoking group ‘Forest’ have blasted the new picture warnings.

Their director, Simon Clark, said: “We support measures that educate people about the health risks of smoking, but these pictures are designed not just to educate but to shock and coerce people to give up a legal product.

“They are unnecessarily intrusive, gratuitously offensive, and yet another example of smokers being singled out for special attention.

“The government seems determined to humiliate smokers until they behave in a state-approved way. Well it won’t work. Far from giving up, most smokers are likely to say enough is enough and reach for their fags in defiance.”

The government is considering going even further, banning all colour from packaging, leaving a plain white packet with just the company name and the health warnings.

The Department of Health reckons that 90,000 smokers have kicked the habit since the written warnings were introduced to packets five years ago and they expect the picture warnings to have an even greater affect.

Yet, despite the warnings, smoking is still the largest preventable cause of death in England, causing the premature deaths of 87,000 people last year.

Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said: "Written health warnings have encouraged many smokers to stop smoking. These new stark picture warnings emphasise the harsh health realities of continuing to smoke. I hope they will make many more think hard about giving up, and get the help they need to stop smoking for good."

TASK, the local stop smoking service for Rochdale, has also voiced their support.

Ingrid Corcos, acting manager from the stop smoking service, said: “They may be very graphic but these photographs truly represent the effects of smoking on people’s lives and on their bodies. If people are making a choice to smoke, it should be a choice made with factual information about the possible consequences. As a service we encourage any idea that may give the public the motivation to try and quit smoking and we will be available to support them.”

“Smoking continues to be one of the biggest killers in the UK, and here in the Rochdale Borough, so hopefully this new move will be an additional motivation to help people quit.”
But Councillor Dale Mugrew, cabinet member for health on Rochdale council, has also criticised the new warnings. He says they are just another example of the ‘nanny state gone wrong’.

“I don’t think the pictures will have any major impact on the people of Rochdale,” he said.

“Everyone knows the health consequences and dangers of smoking.

“What we need is a more positive message, we need more programmes like the one the council has developed with the local PCT that tries and stops of kids of school age taking up smoking.”