The sense of printing picture warnings on cigarette boxes
June 27th, 2016
In the past, tobacco was a symbol of cool guys with glowing cigarettes, dangling from their lips.
No cowboy movies were possible without cigars and cigarettes held in hands and lips.
The tobacco stressed their images, showed that they were special and cute persons.
Nobody would blame them for that habit; it was an iconic and integral part of the entire image.
Smoking let them express their masculinity. Male watchers saw them as patterns for themselves; female watchers saw them as ideal men that they wanted to meet.
The things changed after appearance of multiple medical warnings, describing the hazards and risks of tobacco consumption.
People had to get an idea that the tobacco is a reason of diseases of troubles and quit smoking or never start with it.
Those who wanted to expel smoking from the daily life had to be convinced by all means that it is dangerous. Numerous limitations and bans were issued to force people to quit smoking.
Smoking was prohibited in many places; any cigarette advertising had to be followed with with warnings that smoking is dangerous.
Smokers were laughed at for their addiction. They were described as stupid persons who keep to a mortal habit despite they know that it ruins their health.
Tobacco and cigarette manufacturers are legally bound to picture warnings of tobacco consumption of cigarette packs. But those who provoke such legal issues want to make this measure especiaaly efficient.
They insist on greater dimensions of warning graphics placed on cigarette boxes and refer to the experience of India where such measure was performed.
We, however, forget that we live in a democratic society. Anyone dare have habits, which are not to be prohibited as long as they are not in controversy with the rights of other persons.
Smokers must be attentive that their addiction does not bother non-smokers, but why must anyone make a conscious impact on them in order to make them quit if they find delight in tobacco consumption.
The most smokers are not mad and stupid and understand that their habit can be hazardous. But they also face advantages of this habit, which they do not want to be deprived of. Smoking is more than just a habit; this is a part of their life.
They cannot live with cigarettes or their life will become a torture. A great number of smokers admit that their life without cigarettes will be a torture that is much worse than death.
What is then the sense to picture warnings on packs, which will be surely ignored?