New Graphic Health Warnings
Jonathan Foulds, PhD posted:
Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the new graphic health warnings that will appear on the top 50% of the front and back of each cigarette pack and the top 20% of each cigarette advertisement (by September, 2012). There are nine new pictorial warnings, each accompanying a specific text health warning and each one has the toll-free phone number for the national smoking cessation quitline (1-800-QUIT NOW), where smokers can receive smoking cessation counseling.
USA will join over 30 other countries in having large pictorial health warnings on cigarettes. Overall, although I feel that the new US warnings are not as strong as those in other countries, this is a very big positive step. I am glad that 1-800-QUITNOW is added to every pack and that most of the pictures are vivid and photographic in nature.
The only one I think is very weak is the one warning about smoking in pregnancy. This is the only one with a cartoon rather than a photograph. When I wrote to FDA to comment on the initial panel of 32 warnings I stated an opinion that the cartoons were less impactful and that some of the wording is overly cautious. For example, "Smoking during pregnancy can harm your baby." Can? Why not state the fact plainly? "Smoking during pregnancy harms your baby." I also recommended that the government's own smoking cessation website, http://www.smokefree.gov, should be added to the warnings as a reliable source of information on quitting.
The new pictorial health warnings will be much more effective than the current small text-only warnings in conveying to smokers the real consequences of smoking cigarettes and will likely have the effect of prompting more smokers to try to quit. So I think this is a big step forward in the US. What do you think? You can access details and pictures of the new warnings here.
USA will join over 30 other countries in having large pictorial health warnings on cigarettes. Overall, although I feel that the new US warnings are not as strong as those in other countries, this is a very big positive step. I am glad that 1-800-QUITNOW is added to every pack and that most of the pictures are vivid and photographic in nature.
The only one I think is very weak is the one warning about smoking in pregnancy. This is the only one with a cartoon rather than a photograph. When I wrote to FDA to comment on the initial panel of 32 warnings I stated an opinion that the cartoons were less impactful and that some of the wording is overly cautious. For example, "Smoking during pregnancy can harm your baby." Can? Why not state the fact plainly? "Smoking during pregnancy harms your baby." I also recommended that the government's own smoking cessation website, http://www.smokefree.gov, should be added to the warnings as a reliable source of information on quitting.
The new pictorial health warnings will be much more effective than the current small text-only warnings in conveying to smokers the real consequences of smoking cigarettes and will likely have the effect of prompting more smokers to try to quit. So I think this is a big step forward in the US. What do you think? You can access details and pictures of the new warnings here.
Take the Poll
Do you think the new graphic health warnings for cigarette packs will do a better job than the current warnings on the pack, of informing smokers about the health effects of smoking, and encouraging them to quit?
- No, I think they will be less effective than the current warnings
- No, I don't think they are better than the current warnings.
- Yes, I think the new warnings will be more effective.
- Yes, I think the new warnings will be much more effective.
7 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:New Graphic Health WarningsToday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the new graphic health warnings that will appear on the top 50% of the front and back of each cigarette pack and the top 20% of each cigarette advertisement (by September, 2012). There are nine new pictorial warnings, each accompanying a specific text health warning and each one has the toll-free phone number for the national smoking cessation quitline (1-800-QUIT NOW), where smokers can receive smoking cessation counseling. <br><br>USA will join over 30 other countries in having large pictorial health warnings on cigarettes. Overall, although I feel that the new US warnings are not as strong as those in other countries, this is a very big positive step. I am glad that 1-800-QUITNOW is added to every pack and that most of the pictures are vivid and photographic in nature. <br><br>The only one I think is very weak is the one warning about smoking in pregnancy. This is the only one with a cartoon rather than a photograph. When I wrote to FDA to comment on the initial panel of 32 warnings I stated an opinion that the cartoons were less impactful and that some of the wording is overly cautious. For example, "Smoking during pregnancy can harm your baby." Can? Why not state the fact plainly? "Smoking during pregnancy harms your baby." I also recommended that the government's own smoking cessation website, <a href=http://www.smokefree.gov target=_blank>http://www.smokefree.gov</a>, should be added to the warnings as a reliable source of information on quitting. <br><br>The new pictorial health warnings will be much more effective than the current small text-only warnings in conveying to smokers the real consequences of smoking cigarettes and will likely have the effect of prompting more smokers to try to quit. So I think this is a big step forward in the US. What do you think? You can access details and pictures of the new warnings <a href=http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/CigaretteWarningLabels/default.htm target=_blank>here</a>. <br><br>
Jonathan Foulds, PhD responded:
Here is the link to the Whitehouse press conference launching the new warnings. Its quite good.
Report This| Share this:New Graphic Health WarningsHere is the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/06/21/new-warnings-tobacco-products">link</a> to the Whitehouse press conference launching the new warnings. Its quite good.
marvin68 responded:
I agree this is a step forward, but why aren't people as worried about drinking and all the teenage drinking that goes on. Does this not matter? So many people are killed every year because of drunk drivers, so why are we not seeing the pictures of good livers versus bad livers on beer packages. This is starting to get a little out of hand. Sports players ae supoosed to be heros for some of our children well frankly I don't want that person to be hero if they are seen on beer commercials. Commericals show sexy people on beaches with Corana. This should be just as uneceptable as tabacco. I guess this is okay you can not kill yourself because YOU CHOOSE TO SMOKE, but go ahead and DRINK then go DRIVE and KILL SOMEONE ELSE. We need to stop both of these issues and we are not.
Report This| Share this:New Graphic Health WarningsI agree this is a step forward, but why aren't people as worried about drinking and all the teenage drinking that goes on. Does this not matter? So many people are killed every year because of drunk drivers, so why are we not seeing the pictures of good livers versus bad livers on beer packages. This is starting to get a little out of hand. Sports players ae supoosed to be heros for some of our children well frankly I don't want that person to be hero if they are seen on beer commercials. Commericals show sexy people on beaches with Corana. This should be just as uneceptable as tabacco. I guess this is okay you can not kill yourself because YOU CHOOSE TO SMOKE, but go ahead and DRINK then go DRIVE and KILL SOMEONE ELSE. We need to stop both of these issues and we are not.
It doesn't bother me. I will continue to smoke as I please.
Report This| Share this:New Graphic Health WarningsIt doesn't bother me. I will continue to smoke as I please.
chaffin45 responded:
It's fine trying to get people to stop smoking. Why are we only after smokers though. Why not try this same kind of warning on alcohol labels? Not only for the health risks posed to the drinker but also the risk they pose to innocent people when they drive drunk. Show them what their organs look like when diseased, show them what an accident scene looks like, show them pictures of their victims on life support or on a table in the morgue. I know there are ads on t.v. that show this, just as there are ads on t.v. concerning smoking. So if we are going to put graphic labels on cigarette packs, let's do the same for alcohol labels.
Report This| Share this:New Graphic Health WarningsIt's fine trying to get people to stop smoking. Why are we only after smokers though. Why not try this same kind of warning on alcohol labels? Not only for the health risks posed to the drinker but also the risk they pose to innocent people when they drive drunk. Show them what their organs look like when diseased, show them what an accident scene looks like, show them pictures of their victims on life support or on a table in the morgue. I know there are ads on t.v. that show this, just as there are ads on t.v. concerning smoking. So if we are going to put graphic labels on cigarette packs, let's do the same for alcohol labels.
missgenna responded:
Clearly the FDA doesn't have any smokers working for them. I personally don't smoke. I also think it is a horrible habit. But marrying someone who gave it up, I know how much he struggled. I know how much our friends struggle. This is just another case where the government is too involved in our lives.
Report This| Share this:New Graphic Health WarningsClearly the FDA doesn't have any smokers working for them. I personally don't smoke. I also think it is a horrible habit. But marrying someone who gave it up, I know how much he struggled. I know how much our friends struggle. This is just another case where the government is too involved in our lives.
Not only that, but how about on food labels as well? 2/3rds of the nation's population are overweight and/or obese. Eating excessively or eating the wrong kinds of food can do as much, if not more damage, than alcohol, tobacco or drugs can. I say everything in moderation.
Report This| Share this:New Graphic Health WarningsNot only that, but how about on food labels as well? 2/3rds of the nation's population are overweight and/or obese. Eating excessively or eating the wrong kinds of food can do as much, if not more damage, than alcohol, tobacco or drugs can. I say everything in moderation.
moutojj responded:
Where does it stop? Should we put pictures of obese people on your McDonald's fries container? Should we put pictures of shriveled up women on tanning beds? Should we put pictures of fat kids in elevators to encourage using stairs? How about putting "Pop-Up" pictures that show up at high speeds on your speed ometer of people that have been killed in vehicle crashes due to speeding?
The fact is that we all have been educated about the effects of tobacco products. Everyone knows that they are addictive, cause cancer, and that 2nd hand smoke can hurt those around us. But if we go down this road of making people feel bad for buying things they like, WHERE DOES IT STOP?
The fact is that we all have been educated about the effects of tobacco products. Everyone knows that they are addictive, cause cancer, and that 2nd hand smoke can hurt those around us. But if we go down this road of making people feel bad for buying things they like, WHERE DOES IT STOP?
Report This| Share this:New Graphic Health WarningsWhere does it stop? Should we put pictures of obese people on your McDonald's fries container? Should we put pictures of shriveled up women on tanning beds? Should we put pictures of fat kids in elevators to encourage using stairs? How about putting "Pop-Up" pictures that show up at high speeds on your speed ometer of people that have been killed in vehicle crashes due to speeding?<br /> <br />The fact is that we all have been educated about the effects of tobacco products. Everyone knows that they are addictive, cause cancer, and that 2nd hand smoke can hurt those around us. But if we go down this road of making people feel bad for buying things they like, WHERE DOES IT STOP?
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