By Patrick Jackson
BBC News Online |
 Some ask: why so many warnings but no ban? |
"Fumer tue" (smoking kills), some of the French packets now spell out in big letters under the EU health guidelines which grew even tighter on Wednesday - but my friend, I knew, would only be reading the receipt to see how much he was saving against British tobacco duty. Signs are, however, that other confirmed smokers are up in arms at the in-your-face health warnings and one company in France is producing little cases which simply cover them up.
The anti-smoking campaigners, of course, point out that smokers can hide the warnings, but the nicotine will remain.
Yet whilst "smoking can seriously damage your health" is a message familiar to millions, you might not believe it to judge from some of the material now being produced in EU states to parody the official health warnings.
'Mutilating a nice packet'
In Spain, the UK's Guardian newspaper reports, alternative messages range from defiant stickers - "Living is fatal" and "Driving may endanger your health" - to seductive cigarette cases which say "Let's share a smoke" or "How about a fag and a drink?".
 | Official EU health warnings Smoking kills Smoking seriously harms you and others around you Smokers die younger Smoking causes ageing of the skin |
British smokers can buy joke stickers which replicate Her Majesty's Government's health warnings in size and style but which read "Buy your own fags" or "Smoking is cool".
The cardboard cigarette cases being produced by French firm Dolmen are more subtle, being decorated with flower patterns or, perhaps, a portrait of Che Guevara, that global icon of rebellion.
People are a "little bit ashamed" to be seen carrying a cigarette pack with one of the new warnings on it, Dolmen's Christophe Blanc told Reuters news agency.
"We decided to launch the cases when we heard... the cigarette packs would be mutilated with warnings."
Dutch and Belgian tobacconists are reportedly now also considering alternative packets for smokers to decant their cigarettes into.
The Guardian has detected similar resistance in Spain to the new health warnings, which now cover much of the average packet.
"If it is really that bad, then they should just ban tobacco," said Elena Fernandez-Arias, a smoker it interviewed.
Backlash
Simon Clark, director of the UK-based lobby group Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (Forest), says the negative reaction to the new warnings is perhaps inevitable.
|  Smokers [are] a bit more bullish, a bit more belligerent, about their habit  |
"There is not a single, sane smoker in the UK unaware of the health risks associated with smoking and many are fed up with what they regard as harassment," he told News Online.
"Far from discouraging people, the warnings are having the opposite effect, making confirmed smokers a bit more bullish, a bit more belligerent, about their habit."
Whilst Mr Clark stresses that Forest does not oppose health warnings per se, he argues that the large new stickers being enforced in the EU are creating "warning fatigue".
It is an argument quickly rejected by Naj Dehlavi, a researcher working for the UK anti-smoking lobby Action on Smoking and Health (Ash).
Denial
Smokers, Mr Dehlavi told News Online, should just face up to the warnings.
"Look at them, accept what they say and make an attempt to quit," is his advice.
"Hiding the packet is not going to make the health risks go away."
Far from discouraging smokers to stop, the Ash researcher argues, graphic health warnings - sometimes featuring pictures of the damage caused by nicotine - have proven to be very effective in countries such as Canada and Brazil.
Asked about the stickers which parody the official health warnings, he says they "harpoon" a very serious message.
"Smokers might find these these stickers funny or humurous in the short term, but you have to remember that, in the long term, someone is going to die, especially with regard to younger people," says Mr Dehlavi.
Neither light nor mild
The European Commission certainly appears to have no doubts about its anti-smoking campaign.
From Wednesday, EU cigarette packets are no longer allowed to feature words such as "mild" or "light", which it deems to be misleading.
In the face of all this official pressure to shun the weed, one may feel some sympathy with those smokers who ask why tobacco is not banned outright by governments.
"I guess they still want the tax," was the conclusion of Ms Fernandez-Arias.
Are the warnings putting you off your smoke? Send us your comments using the postform below.
Your comments:
| I doubt there are many smokers left in the developed world unaware of the risks involved |
I don't think the warnings put smokers of smoking, I doubt there are many smokers left in the developed world unaware of the risks involved. I would think all the money spent by the anti-smoking lobby (which they get mostly from tobacco tax interestingly, hence would cease to exist if everyone quit and would out of a job, so who's side are they on??? kidding) on advertising would be better used to come up with better and more viable ways of helping smokers quit...they obviously have very little insight into consumer psyche and would be well advised to do a little research.
Nassim Ghrayeb, Canada Everyone knows the hazards of smoking. In your face pressure about them is pointless at the least and borders on harassment. I don't mind smoking away from those who wish not to be around it, in some public places that is just plain courtesy, law or not. But To badger me about something I enjoy and am completely aware of the facts of is just too much. I mean no one has a campaign against cheeseburgers and fries - just as big of health problem contributors as smokes - so please leave me be with my innocent little vice.
Joe Closson, US
After having spent this past year studying in France, I can't help but notice the difference upon my return to Canada. Whereas in France, where the golden Marlboro light packets tended to help make smoking almost fashionable, in Canada our large, graphic warnings certain do take away some of the flair of cigarette smoking. Certainly, if not for cultural reasons, the new warnings tend to cause smokers to be considerably more discreet with their cigarette packets than before.
Phil, Canada
No warning deterred me from smoking. I enjoyed it too much. It was my reward for finishing any project and my friend when I was depressed. I quit for vanity reasons. Smoking creates premature lines on the face, especially around the mouth. To quit the habit, I used "the patch" available in a local store. People will go back to the beautiful cigarette cases used decades ago to avoid the messages. Thanks for allowing me to share my message!
Cynthia G. Hollin, USA
Smoking is undoubtedly a hazard that has been ignored by government the world over for too long a time. I suppose that human lives are worth more than profits from what we all is a killer element. A government that cares for its people should make the selling, and or distribution of tobacco a criminal with the severest of consequences. Saying that tobacco is bad is not enough. Eliminate it completely. When there will be no cigarettes, there will be no smokers.
Sorie Gassama, USA
| We couldn't have cared less what was on the outside of the box, as long as the contents remained the same |
No "warnings" made myself, my wife, or any of our friends quit smoking. Frankly, we couldn't have cared less what was on the outside of the box, as long as the contents remained the same. The only factor was their skyrocketing prices, most of which goes straight to the government. Which, of course, is also the reason why those in power refuse to ban them entirely.
C Johnson, Canada As a smoker in a city (Ottawa) where cigarette SMOKE has been banned in ALL public places, I wonder why the money spent on advertising hasn't been re-directed to finding new ways for long-term smokers to butt out. Commercials on television, warning labels, bill boards and even the legal prevention of tobacco manufacturers sponsoring sporting or civic events does NOTHING to stop smoking. Neither does continuing to collect very high taxes on this highly-addicting product. I would support an all out ban on tobacco PERIOD!
Carla V, Canada
I don't think it's the comments that make us quite...more like our government officials. In a way what the NYC mayor has done is fascist, but honestly for former smokers like me, it's nice to finally go into a restaurant and not having to be deal with all the smoke.
Serge, NYC, USA
The warnings will do very little. The problem with smoking is that it harms the person NEAR you as well as yourself. Here in the US one out of every five deaths is attributed to cigarettes. It's well known that tobacco companies employ chemists to PURPOSELY add ADDICTIVE CHEMICALS to cigarettes, as was reported on 60 Minutes and discussed by Mike Wallace. How a company can sell a poisonous product that not only harms yourself, but others as well is a testament to the power of money and the foolishness of people in general.
Peter Campisi, USA
Despite all the warnings on the package I don't consider to stop smoking yet. I agree with Ms Fernandez-Arias that if the governments think that smoking is really that bad for our health they just should forbid / ban smoking.
Erik Uitterdijk, the Netherlands
No. Yet saying "if it's that bad, then just ban it," is no solution either and a rather ridiculous statement. Personal freedom to indulge in "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", no matter how dangerous, is a God-given right of all people and should not be infringed.
Doug F, USA
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 