[Intl-tobacco] UK: Tough cigarette warnings introduced

[Robert Weissman]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2617585.stm
- website contains list of new warnings and graphic display of what they
will look like.

BBC News
Wednesday, 1 January, 2003, 10:19 GMT
Tough cigarette warnings introduced

Stark health warnings will appear on cigarette packets in
the UK from Wednesday.

It follows an European Union directive which said they
should cover 30% of the front of cigarette and 40% of
the back.

General warnings such as "Smoking
kills", "Smoking can kill" or "Smoking
seriously harms you and others
around you" will appear on the front
of packets.

One of 14, more specific,
warnings will appear on the
back (see box). These will be
rotated so that they will all
appear at regular intervals

The warnings will also be
highlighted by thick black
borders.

Warnings block

Tobacco companies recently
lost their fight against the
tough new rules, which also
mean the terms "light" and
"mild" are banned.

The introduction of the
warnings comes as it
emerges former Tory Prime
Minister Edward Heath curbed
attempts to clamp down on
smoking in the early 1970s.

New Scientist magazine
reports the then social
services secretary Sir Keith
Joseph was proposing a bill
which would have forced
cigarette adverts to carry
health warnings and give
local authorities the powers
to ban smoking in public
places.

But the idea was quickly
watered down. In 1971
tobacco companies agreed to
carry health warnings on
packets as part of a
voluntary code, but no
legislation was introduced.

Reminder

Amanda Sandford, research
manager for the charity
Action on Smoking and
Health welcomed the new EU
health warnings.

"Very soon there will be no
escaping the stark facts
about smoking.

"Every time smokers reach for a
cigarette they will be reminded of
the health consequences of
lighting up.

"Although everyone knows
smoking is harmful, it's
easy to forget just how
dangerous it is.

"These new warnings will
be a constant reminder
that smoking causes fatal
diseases."

She said the harsh
warnings may help spur on
those smokers who want to
mark the New Year by
quitting.

Ms Sandford advised people who did want to stop
smoking to ask their GPs or pharmacists for advice.