16 replies to this topic

[Still Waters]

Cigarette packs sold in the EU will have to have bigger health warnings in text and pictures, under new proposals from the EU Commission.

The draft directive would require 75% of the packet to be covered - front and back - with the warnings. But company branding would not be banned.

It would also ban strong flavours such as menthol or vanilla, which can mask the bitter tobacco taste.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-20783263

[G Donnelly]

So I'm going to be treated to more gruesome pictures of gangrene and open-heart surgery.
And now it looks like I have to strengthen my stomach with a triple dose.
A tobacconist will be now more like a clinic it wasn't for the fact that they don't leave the product on open display.
I'm not entirely thrilled by the prospect of R-rated graphics on my cigarette packet.
But I don't have to even look and instead think of happy thoughts while I smoke.
However anything to form a new generation of smoke-free people gets my vote.
Let's hope enough people take the hint and not go down the same road I did.
It's funny but when I started the packets where more consumer friendly.

Edited by Medium Brown, 19 December 2012 - 10:58 PM.

[Hasina]

I have no problems with health warnings.

[spartan max2]

75 percent of the packet covered. sounds like overkill to me ffs.

Maybe we should stop trying to tell people how to live there life?

[ExpandMyMind]

Bah, I keep getting the lung cancer ones. I'd prefer gum disease or something less severe like that, but I guess all the less severe ones are taken by the time I get there, so I'm left with the ones that give you lung cancer.

[Insaniac]

spartan max2, on 19 December 2012 - 11:46 PM, said:

75 percent of the packet covered. sounds like overkill to me ffs.

Maybe we should stop trying to tell people how to live there life?

In some cases, you're correct. We shouldn't be told how to live our lives in many aspects.

However, smoking is something I think we as a species ought to do without. If people didn't live a disobedient lifestyle, you wouldn't even see warning labels on the side of cigarette cases. You wouldn't even see cigarette's, period.

Smoking is a lethal and addictive killer. In the end, It leaves the smoker as a dried-up husk, who is eventually likely to get Cancer and perish. In the process of his selfish punishment, he serves to further pollute the environment. Not a good situation for anybody.

Nothing positive comes from smoking. It should be outlawed in all countries, in my opinion. For the health of our species and our home, Earth.

[Kafkaesque]

Health warnings offer people nothing more than a choice - a choice to do something harmful to themselves, or not to.

As a former smoker, I can say that I didn't like people telling me what to put in my own body.

I, as an adult, made the choice to quit because I didn't like the effects on my health.

Other people will do the same - or they won't. That's the difference, and it's no one elses business.

But 75% of the packet sounds like overkill.

[Render]

Eonwe, on 20 December 2012 - 04:23 AM, said:

Health warnings offer people nothing more than a choice - a choice to do something harmful to themselves, or not to.

As a former smoker, I can say that I didn't like people telling me what to put in my own body.

I, as an adult, made the choice to quit because I didn't like the effects on my health.

Other people will do the same - or they won't. That's the difference, and it's no one elses business.

Is it no one else's bussiness?

Most smokers don't seem to realise they are not alone in the world and their smoking also has it's effect on others.
For example walking through town and a smoker walks in front of you and the non-smoker is trapped behind having to inhale the second-hand smoke.
Or ppl smoking in their car creating a mini gas chamber. Etc..

I mean, there are other ppl out there, that don't smoke and aren't pleased with having to inhale smoke from others who clearly aren't able to think about anybody else but themselves.
So who's more in the wrong here? The unhealthy smoker, or the person that tries to stay more healthy by not wanting to inhale smoke frequently? Who should have the law on their side more?

[stevewinn]

the biggest advert for the Tobacco companies is parents, extended family members and friends smoking - young children watch this, grow into adults and become tempted - i think a lot of people start smoking because its a case of monkey see monkey do.

[Taun]

Insaniac, on 20 December 2012 - 02:09 AM, said:

In some cases, you're correct. We shouldn't be told how to live our lives in many aspects.

However, smoking is something I think we as a species ought to do without. If people didn't live a disobedient lifestyle, you wouldn't even see warning labels on the side of cigarette cases. You wouldn't even see cigarette's, period.

Smoking is a lethal and addictive killer. In the end, It leaves the smoker as a dried-up husk, who is eventually likely to get Cancer and perish. In the process of his selfish punishment, he serves to further pollute the environment. Not a good situation for anybody.

Nothing positive comes from smoking. It should be outlawed in all countries, in my opinion. For the health of our species and our home, Earth.

I can agree with most of what you posted... but I'm not certain what you meant by "disobedient lifestyle"... Perhaps you meant 'destructive lifestyle" which I agree with...  but if you really meant 'disobedient'... whom shall we be obedient to? and to what degree?

As to the warning labels... People don't read or pay attention to them  now.. they won't later either...

[Render]

stevewinn, on 20 December 2012 - 12:58 PM, said:

- i think a lot of people start smoking because its a case of monkey see monkey do.

I think that's the ONLY reason. Seeing there is no other benefit from inhaling smoke into your lungs on a frequent basis.
Otherwise we should all be firemen/women.

[praetorian-legio XIII]

Although I enjoy smoking I wouldn't defend it in any way. 75% of the packaging for warnings sure,whatever. But if they plan to add some nice graphic pictures of rotten lungs on cigarette packs, how about some nice graphic pictures of rotten kidneys and livers on bottles of liquor.

[Insaniac]

Taun, on 20 December 2012 - 02:18 PM, said:

I can agree with most of what you posted... but I'm not certain what you meant by "disobedient lifestyle"... Perhaps you meant 'destructive lifestyle" which I agree with...  but if you really meant 'disobedient'... whom shall we be obedient to? and to what degree?

As to the warning labels... People don't read or pay attention to them  now.. they won't later either...

I think I ment both 'disobedient lifestyle' and 'destructive lifestyle.'

To turn from ones parents, who love, care and want the best for you healthwise to take up smoking, would be disobedience towards them.

Take care

Edited by Insaniac, 26 December 2012 - 11:33 PM.

[Wickian]

Pretty much the only advertisement tobacco gets nowadays is how unhealthy it is and how you'll get cancer by smoking it.  How could tougher health warnings possibly hope to accomplish anything?  It seems pointless.

I'm a non-smoker for the record.

[TheLastLazyGun]

Why can't the EU, to use a pun, just butt out?

We already have enough over-the-top warnings on fag packets already, with pictures of corpses and diseased lungs on them and the words "SMOKING KILLS" in big letters.

People know that smoking is bad for their health but if people want to smoke I don't see what the problem is.  Even more over-the-top warnings on health packets is not going to stop loads of people smoking.

This is just another example of our leaders, especially in Europe, treating us all like children who think we never use any commonsense.

Edited by TheLastLazyGun, 27 December 2012 - 03:49 PM.