What do you think of the 'warning' labels on cigarette packets?

Question

I came across one today that said 'Smoker's die younger'. It was my mum's pack of cigarettes and just looking at that label made me feel overwhelmed with sadness. That was something I did not want to read regarding my Mother's health.

I have mixed opinions over this 'campaign'. I can see why they are doing it - the benefits BUT i can also find down sides to this.

What do you think? Is it right?

Answer 1

I work in healthcare (chemotherapy) and see the effects of smoking. In my humble opinion, the warnings should be in neon lights, and should yell out to the person everytime they take one out of the pack. I am very sorry the warning made you sad, but if it keeps one person from smoking...I pray it will keep you from smoking. What about a child that picks up a pack of cigs...maybe his parents smoke and think its fine...maybe thats the ONLY warning he'll ever get regarding his health and what smoking can do to him... So, yes..I think its right, appropriate, necessary and just not enough...but it will have to do until something better can be thought of.

Answer 2

To be honest about the whole warning signs, I have not even bothered to look at it. To date I have not really look at it properly.I buy a pack open it and smoke. That's all.
It is not effective at all, people will still smoke no matter what- PERIOD.
I am only disappointed that in Singapore they had banned small packets and only sells box of 20s. This is actually not working as the idea was to deter children from buying ( coz of price) but they dont know that if I wish to reduce smoking ( most smokers wants too) I will purchase a small packet. In this case, I am forced to buy a bigger packet and thus smoke more. As most smokers knows you cant keep the packet too long or smoke the 20 sticks in 2/3 days. This is definitely one step forward but 2 steps backward.

Answer 3

personally i thin they are redundant. If someone is gonna smoke, they are gonna smoke whether or not there is some yucky picture on it or a scary warning. In canada we have graphic pics on our packs and its just disgusting...the only benefit that might come from these warnings is that it may prevent some younger people to start smoking, but its not gonna help anyone quit. But to totally contradict myself, yes i still think there should be warnings so that kids can see exactly what they'd be getting into if they choose to light up. I'm sorry it made you sad and worried about your mom, you should talk to her and tell her that it scares you, it might be an incentive for her to think about quitting. Don't be agressive about it tho, the more a smoker is nagged, the more they will want to smoke.

Answer 4

i think more people should listen to them.

but the smoking companies make their money off of cigarettes. they put warnings on because the law tells them to. but pretty much every smoker knows (or is ignorant) that smoking is harmful already.

personally, i hate smoking, have an aversion of being anywhere near someone while they're smoking, and would never date a girl that smoked. i would say i wish it was against the law, but i don't like freedoms taken away like that.
i do wish it were against the law to sell cigarettes (marijuana is illegal but has medicinal value, while cigarettes are legal but have no redeeming quality whatsoever), then people would have trouble finding them and be forced to go cold turkey.

and as for what wizardslizards said, this is how i look at things. Maybe there's no evidence that smoking is bad for you, but there is no possible way that smoking could be good for you.

Answer 5

people who smoke know the risks. the messages are there to make the smoker realise what they are they are doing and (just like you) to persuade family members to pressure them into stopping. I agree that scare tactics are not always the way to go about things but if it improves peoples health then it can only be good. I think that to stop smoking you have to want to stop from you own conclusions and feelings about it. I smoke because i like it and have had no desire to stop even though the government tells me "Smoking kills" or "smokers die younger". I know these things but if were to have a child who is upset at the fact of loosing me, well then i would have a desire to stop and will power works wonders. Tell your mum how you feel. am touched by your concern.

Answer 6

Such labels create guilt and tension - STRESS.

Stress is a bigger cause of cancer than cigarette smoke ever will be. Sufferers of stress die younger.

Hypocracy? You bet.

If they really wanted to do something about smoking they would ban it altogether. The government are trying to toe a line of appeasement to the (very powerful) tobacco manufacturers and the health campaigners who rightly point to the growing costs within the NHS.

As regards to your mother, discuss the warning and your feelings. Your feelings are more powerful than some empty government sentiment.

Answer 7

Smoking is not a joke. Scientific research have found that smokers really suffer diseases and illness including but not limited to: Heart attacks, Strokes, Cancers of various body organs, and asthma with other lung problems. Research have indicated that those conditions are considered a major causes of death world wide, and people who have them live a lot shorter that others, in addition to this people with such conditions have a very poor quality of life before death ( meaning they will spend there time in and out of hospitals, and so on and so forth..)

Therefore, I think it is a good way to let people know that smoking is so dangerous. It may also prompt people who smoke to start seriously think of quitting. I think you should move from your sadness and utilize this anger that you felt -perhaps- and make every effort to educate your mom about quitting and help her fight this habit, put in other words, you should support your mom quitting right from the beginning and tell he that you really want her to quit because you love her and you want to be with her for a long time being healthy and way from trouble.

Answer 8

personally i think these labels are a waste of ink most smokers are aware that cigarettes cause cancer contain some nasty chemicals but it does not deter them. if you are too stupid to know that they are dangerous then whose fault is that? as a smoker i dont pay any attention to these warnings they dont put me off at all. i smoke 20 a day well aware of what they can do as my grandmother died of cancer.

the warnings are there just to cover the tobacco firms from being sued like kp nuts warning "may contain nuts" its stupid the government dont really want to ban smoking outright as they make more from tax on cigarettes than they spend in health care.

Answer 9

I think it's wrong that they just target tobacco products with these warnings. There are a lot of products on the market today that can be harmful to your health and I have yet to see warnings on them. Here in Canada, they don't stop at written warnings like you out-lined, they also show pictures of what a smokers lungs look like. Why don't they show pictures of fat people on chocolate bar wrappers or what a drinkers liver looks like on a case of beer, etc.? Oh, and I believe you'll die when you die no matter if you smoke or not. My one grandmother didn't smoke a day in her life - she died of cancer at the age of 50. My other grandmother who smoked 3+ packs a day for as long as I can remember, lived to a ripe age of 101 before succumbing to pneumonia....it's all in your genetic make-up.

Answer 10

The cigarette companies are required to put the warning labels on the sides of each pack... its a complete waste if ink if you ask me.

This will sound completely backwards from what you believe to know: there is ABSOLUTELY NO STUDY PROVING CIGARETTES CAUSE CANCER! Believe it or not... but it's very true. You will always be told to believe they do because of the bias towards tobacco companies making a crap load of money...

Answer 11

I don't think it makes any difference... if the label said 'we are going to increase the cost of these cigarettes 10 times tomorrow' the smokers might think about it. But it's sad that your mother isn't aware of your love for her in this respect. Hope she doesn't get cancer, of course.