Yesterday I was glad to see the UK government (which has in recent times caught up to other countries as regards smoking regulations) has decided to put quite graphic images on smoking packets. These include* pictures of people with cancerous growths, damaged lungs, damaged hearts, etc.
As was pointed out to me these images might not stop smokers smoking. Smokers know that they shorten their life expectancy with every puff but they smoke because they enjoy it. Well I would contest that they smoke due to addiction but we’ll move on. I would also contend that all smokers actually do know just how much smoking is affecting their health.
What might very well work with this campaign is that less people might take up smoking. These gruesome images might well stop younger people becoming tomorrow’s smokers. It’s worth a try.
* I didn’t put up the images here (in case you have a weak stomach) but they can be found here.
