New Graphic smoking packaging

As of tomorrow, wednesday the 1st October, new graphic smoking pictures are to appear on cigarette packets in the UK replacing the written warnings we have seen since 2003. The new pictures include rotting teeth, throat cancer and indications of male impotence. The Department of health (DoH) says "The warnings illustrate the devastating effects that tobacco can have on health." Although there are 1.9 million fewer smokers today compared to 1982, the DoH says smoking is still the nation's biggest killer being responsible for the premature deaths of 87,000 people annually.

There has been quite a lot of criticism against this anti-smoking strategy with smokers feeling they're being victimized. However, at the moment it looks like the majority of people are in favour of these new advertisements being displayed with the hope that they will graphically shock people out of smoking. Similar picture warnings have been used in Brazil and Canada with results showing 15% of smokers deterred from having a cigarette. I think these graphic images will have a big affect on smokers-a lot more then the written warnings. However, i imagine there will be a lot of different opinions flying around tomorrow with such graphic images on display. We'll soon find out....