Cigarette warnings under review

Monday, 4 August 2003 8:09 PM

Smokers can show signs of "warning fatigue", according to Cancer Research UK, when confronted with monotonous health appeals on cigarette packets.

A study carried out by the charity's Centre for Tobacco Control Research on behalf of the European Commission has suggested that smokers think that the new black and white warnings that have been on tobacco packaging since January this year are more credible, but that further steps may be needed to drive the health messages home.

The study, which interviewed smokers in seven European countries, was presented at the World Conference on Tobacco and Health in Finland, today.

Professor Gerard Hastings of the CTCR noted that the old warnings were seen as paying lip service to the risk of cancer and other serious illnesses from governments that were tied to tax revenue.

And despite the positive reaction to the new appeals - which have to cover 30% of the front of a packet and 40% of the back - Professor Hastings added: "Future warnings will have to be reviewed and refreshed, maybe annually or every few years."

He also suggested that shocking images of cancerous and diseased organs, used with some success in Canada, could be used on cigarette packets - an idea that has apparently been welcomed by the EC.

However, Cancer Research UK has warned that a "careful balancing act" is needed between using shock tactics and offering support to smokers.

That's why it believes that advice and helplines should go side by side with the disturbing images in order to help people who may consider kicking the habit .

120,000 die every year in the UK due to smoking-related illnesses.

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