DoH: Images are a ‘vital step’

Wednesday, 29, Aug 2007 12:00

The health secretary said today he has high hopes that printing graphic images on cigarette packages will act as an unmistakable deterrent.

Alan Johnson articulated the government’s commitment to reducing smoking across the UK, saying the changes were a “vital step” to driving down mortality rates and protecting the public against associated illnesses.

Mr Johnson said: "We have already made a lot of progress with stark written warnings on cigarette packs.

“Today's announcement, together with the introduction of the smoke-free law last month and our plans to raise the legal age of sale for tobacco products will potentially save thousands of lives and others will be spared the misery of watching family and friends die prematurely from smoke related illnesses."

When the new law comes into play from the end of 2008, the UK will be the first country in the EU to introduce such visual warnings on all tobacco products.

DoH figures suggest there has been a five per cent increase in quitting rates since the textual warning were imprinted on packets in 2003.

Over time, however, smoking cessation helplines have noted a dwindling in the number of people citing the slogans as reason for giving up.

The government is hoping to revitalise its pledge to see smoking rates reduced by 21 per cent or less by 2010, by associating the text on the packets with these visual images.

The government’s chief medical officer Liam Donaldson also commented today, saying he hoped the pictures would help solve problems in the health service by freeing NHS staff and facilities to treat other conditions.