The UK's 10 million smokers should brace themselves from 1st October, when the UK will be the first country in the EU to introduce graphic picture warnings on all tobacco products. The warnings illustrate the devastating effects that tobacco can have on health.
The new warnings, which include pictures of rotting teeth and lungs, throat cancer, and a 'flaccid cigarette', will replace the written warnings currently featured on packs, which were introduced in January 2003.
Written warnings have been a huge success, according to new figures released today by the Department of Health. Since their introduction 5 years ago, more than 90,000 smokers have been motivated by the warnings to call the NHS Smoking Helpline (0800 169 0 169).1
However, despite much progress over the past ten years, which has resulted in 1.9 million fewer smokers since 19982, smoking is still the biggest killer in England and causes the premature death of over 87,000 people each year in England alone.
The visual wake-up calls are expected to be even more effective than written warnings. Research suggests that warnings should be changed periodically to maintain effectiveness, and smokers are more likely to remember the damage they are doing to their health if they have seen a picture.
Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said:
"I welcome the introduction of picture warnings on tobacco product packaging, which show smokers the grim reality of the effects smoking can have on their health. This will help to maintain the momentum of the increasing number of people who have given up smoking following England going smoke free in 2007.
"Written health warnings have encouraged many smokers to stop smoking. These new stark picture warnings emphasise the harsh health realities of continuing to smoke. I hope they will make many more think hard about giving up, and get the help they need to stop smoking for good."
Michael Shepherd, aged 38 from Rickmansworth, was diagnosed with throat cancer two years ago. He hopes that the new warnings will make other smokers realise that the risks are real and, unlike him, stop smoking before it's too late. He said:
"Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I felt I was invincible. I was a big strong bloke working at a trade I loved, I had a huge circle of friends and money to spend. Now I'm on invalidity benefits, and live on state handouts. I hate it and would do anything to get back into work. All this has happened to me because of smoking. I never realised you could get cancer so young. The doctors saved my life, but what I've got now is a hard struggle. I will keep on and I will fight to get better, if only for my daughter's sake."
Canada was the first country to introduce graphic warnings, in 2001. One year later, research demonstrated that they had significantly impacted the country's smokers; 31 per cent of ex-smokers reported that picture warnings had motivated them to quit, and 27 per cent reported they had helped them to stay smokefree.3 Graphic warnings are also now used on tobacco products sold in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Venezuela, Thailand and Uruguay.
Last year, more than 350 thousand smokers stopped smoking with local NHS Stop Smoking Services around the country4. Smokers wishing to join them can find out more and order a free DVD explaining the different types of NHS support available to help smokers who want to quit, by calling 0800 169 0 169.
