It’s all over the news this week and it is BIG. Yesterday, I read the story on the front page story on the Reno Gazette Journal‘s on-line news website. Now, I’m not too much of a shock jock kind of girl, BUT I have to say the image of what will be placed on cigarettes was quite eye catching and makes a huge statement of what is going on with smoking. The Reno Gazette Journal clearly has the best link displaying all nine show stopping images (I tried to check out other news agencies). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will require cigarette makers to display graphic photos on each box of cigarettes. The reason?
To shock and deter Americans from smoking, especially teens.
I am interested in this piece since the photos are ugly—what is just the point. I’ve personally been advocating for clean air in Nevada and recently opposing legislation to bring smoking back to bars and taverns. Sidebar: It still baffles me that Nevada has just signed AB571 , into law to encourage smoking in bars and taverns for the sake of generating revenue when we have our country formally stating: SMOKING KILLS–so please STOP. Illegal drug sales brings revenue too, but do we go there? No, don’t think so.
RGJ Story: FDA to require graphic photos on cigarette boxes (in case you missed it).
Here’s the scoop..
This is the first and largest anti-tobacco effort since the surgeon general’s warning became mandatory on cigarette packaging in 1965. Wow. This is huge! Cigarette marketers also will be required to place 1-800-QUIT-NOW numbers on new packaging. “These labels are frank, honest and powerful depictions of the health risks of smoking,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.
The last big change for cigarette packaging was the addition of warning labels in 1984. Which everyone is used to seeing now that they don’t carry impact or value any longer. Tobacco companies will be required to use these images on the top half of each package starting in September 2011.
What I find very interesting is that FDA is getting involved and using shock factors to get the attention of smokers. They are serious and are pulling out the stops to get a message to the 43 millions of Americans who smoke. What is even more interesting is why are cigarettes still legal if we know how dangerous they are?!? I had read stories about these ads a few months ago and I dismissed them thinking that there is no way large tobacco companies would let this happen. I can sometimes be cynical in not so pretty ways. I think this new requirement is an incredibly strong step and statement, as a nation, that smoking kills and enough is enough. We know that tobacco is the number preventable disease, we know smoking (including 2nd hand smoke) is the number reason for stroke and heart attack and we know cancer and lung disease are all related to smoking. We have too much information to continue on this path.
Even though I don’t like shock type images or statements, I have to say that I found all nine images very disturbing and I hope this will generate conversation. I like the use of visual examples highlighting the effect of smoking are now available…on each pack!
This move makes me feel embarrassed that Nevada Governor Sandoval did not veto AB571 and supported the encouragement of smoking for economic reasons. He signed this bill into law last Friday and in less than seven days, the government rolls out with the biggest anti-campaign in over over 40 years! Nevada is actually rolling backwards!
The tobacco industry is challenging this move in federal courts next month. I have to say, I can see why and I hope the FDA prevails. They claim this policy violates their First and Fifth Amendments. The FDA says they are visually educating not telling smokers what to do. Hum….. let’s hope this turns out well.
What did you feel or think about this image….?
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
One can only hope those pictures will have an effect, especially on young people who have recently started smoking, have thought about smoking, or who are smoking but would like to stop.
I’m not sure anything will make a difference to longtime nicotine addicts. However, if the cycle could be stopped with a generation of young people, this country just might be able to eliminate addiction to nicotine in the future. Tobacco companies have made fortunes off sellling drugs to Americans. It’s time for all of them to retire!