Posted on 06/25/2004 9:35:57 AM PDT by presidio9
Australian smokers will soon have to look at the picture of a cancer-ridden lung or a gangrenous foot missing toes each time they light up.
Following a trend pioneered by Canada, the government said it wants cigarette companies to put graphic pictures and warnings on 30 percent of the front of each pack and 90 percent of the back.
One gruesome photo shows a color cross-section of a diseased lung. Another shows a blackened foot missing a toe and the rest twisted. "Smoking causes peripheral vascular disease," it reads. A third shows a dissected, bloodied brain with the caption, "Smoking doubles your risk of stroke."
"The experience in Canada showed there was a three percent drop in smoking," Trish Worth, parliamentary secretary for health, told reporters. Canada introduced the warnings and pictures of diseased organs in late 2000.
But Australian cigarette makers say the move will not alter smoking patterns, and one called it a desperate tactic.
Health Minister Tony Abbott said cigarette companies would have 18 months to make the changes once the government announces them officially.
Anti-smoking groups denounced the government for "caving in" to the tobacco lobby and mandating only 30 percent of the packet's fronts for photos, instead of 50 percent as in Canada.
"Concessions to the tobacco industry of smaller warnings on the front of cigarette packs and delaying their introduction is a bad decision," said Alan Coates, chief executive of the Cancer Council Australia.
The government first set a date of June 2005 for the changes but cigarette makers said they needed longer.
Manufacturers said the move was detrimental.
"The use of medically pornographic images," had little impact on Canadian smoking levels, said Peter Richards, managing director of Imperial Tobacco Australia Ltd.
"This proposal is simply a desperate tactic designed to placate anti-smoking zealots as opposed to sensibly addressing the communication of the health risks associated with smoking," Richards said in a statement.
My grandfather chewed tobacco and his teeth were brown. But he was an old man.
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I know ! I know ! Bad Freeper !! :^O
Those heavy smoking WWII vets that fathered the baby-boomers must get a good laugh out of the impotence nonsense.
God,what's next? Smoking causes hair loss? smoking causes fat thighs? Smoking causes ADHD?
Smoking has been blamed for so much that no one pays attention anymore.
LOL!!!!!
You'd sure think so!
:^D
Maybe this is dreadfully wrong of me, but my first thought on seeing the headline was, "Collect 'em all! Trade 'em with your friends!"
Maybe they'd have room left for a picture of the Berlin Wall, and a warning about the effects of too much government.
Yep,
See Premature grey hair and hair loss among smokers: a new opportunity for health education?
The Anti-Smoking Nazis are actually somewhat honest in this one,
They actually admit the study is extremely flawed and Junk and they really don't care because even if it isn't true they still might be able to scare young people.
Quote
"If young people can be persuaded that smoking will lead to premature grey hair, and in men to baldness, this may offer a promising line of approach in health education against smoking".
I really wish they would try this because it would really piss of AARP
I like it!
On the back and front of each Koran we could have pictures of Danny Pearl, Berg etc.
Caution, Islam can be hazardous to your health.
"Fear is for the Weak": That's my motto. Or "Live in the Now" (I haven't decided yet.)
Hysterical! Will they ever stop?
ROFLMAO!
And here I thought government could not actually help the economy - I have been proven wrong!
We could reverse this theory.
Maybe premature hair loss and premature greying causes people to smoke.
Dealing with the antis and listening to their BS causes premature hair loss and greying!!!!!
Hehe!
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