Will nasty pictures make nicotine addicts quit?
“Senators Frank Drilon and Senator Pia Cayetano are pushing for the passage of a bill requiring tobacco companies to display graphic labels on their products to strengthen the government’s efforts to discourage smoking, especially among the youth,” reports Charissa Luci on Manila Bulletin Online.
The report explained that the bill requires the packaging of tobacco products to display picture-based health warnings in full color with accompanying text warnings. The said text warning should be printed on at least 60 percent of the principal display surfaces for any tobacco package. The warnings should show the dangers of tobacco smoking or passive smoking based on guidelines set by the Department of Health (DOH).
As Cayetano reasoned, “While many tobacco users know tobacco is harmful, studies show that most people are unaware of its true risk. Studies have also shown that picture-based warnings are much more effective than text warnings alone.”
Drilon added that “cigarette smoking costs an estimated PHP188 billion in annual health care expenses and productivity losses.”
Photo from MorgueFile
