Graphic Warnings On The Way for Smokers

2.14.41pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 21st Oct 2004

Graphic health warnings illustrating diseased lungs and gangrenous legs that could soon appear on cigarette packets throughout Britain are to be unveiled by the European Commission tomorrow (22 October).

The Commission will issue 42 photographs and designs, three to accompany each of the 14 written warnings that currently appear on cigarette packs. The project has been three years in preparation and is intended to ensure consistent standards.

Governments across Europe will have the option to choose for themselves whether to require cigarette manufacturers to print the illustrations on packs.

The EU move stems from changes to the 2001 Sale of Tobacco Directive secured by British Liberal Democrat MEPs.

They won cross-party support in the European Parliament for amendments he tabled to the legislation, eventually persuading EU ministers and the European Commission to accept the idea.

The idea came from Canada, where since 2000 cigarette packets have carried pictures to highlight the health risks of smoking. Research shows that the illustrations significantly increase the impact of written messages, with 44% of Canadian smokers claiming that they have increased their motivation to stop smoking.

West Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne says the aim is to curb the peer pressure which leads to young people taking their first smoke, often before they are 16 years old.

She said: "We have to break the impression amongst teenagers that smoking is cool and sexy. I can think of few things more likely to be effective than illustrating the proven risk that tobacco use leads to reduced male sexual potency!

"Adults should be free to smoke in private, but Government health policy should aim to make sure that people are well informed about possible dangers from all drugs, and tobacco is the biggest killer of all.

"I want Health Secretary John Reid to add these pictures to his anti-smoking armoury and require their use at the first opportunity."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

A study carried out for the Canadian Cancer Society one year after the introduction of pictures on cigarette packs found that:

· 43 per cent of smokers were more concerned about the health effects of smoking because of the new warnings

· 44 per cent of smokers said the new warnings increased their motivation to quit smoking, and of those who attempted to quit 38 per cent said the warnings were a factor in motivating them in their quit attempt

· On one or more occasions, 21 per cent of smokers had been tempted to have a cigarette but decided not to because of the new warnings.