New graphic health warnings on cigarette packs

All cigarette packaging placed on the Irish market from today will display graphic photographs with a strong health warning. These images depict the negative health impacts associated with smoking. Research and experience in other countries has shown that health warnings combined with coloured photographs can be an effective means of discouraging smoking and informing people about the health risks related to smoking. According to the World Health Organisation, in Canada the introduction of photo images on cigarette packs resulted in a fourfold increase in smoker's intentions to quit (20% before 87% after). Also according to the WHO, in Brazil 56% of people changed their opinion about the health consequences of smoking after the introduction of the new packaging. Attending a press launch publicising the new images yesterday, Health Minister Dr James Reilly said he hoped the introduction of the graphic photo images will give people a clearer understanding of the great dangers of smoking. "Half, or 1 in 2, of all long-term smokers will die from smoking related diseases. This is a stark statistic. There is no doubt that if tobacco were discovered today, knowing what we know about its lethal effects, it would not be a legal product." "I am committed to reducing the number of young people starting to smoke and those current smokers." the Minister said. If, by introducing these graphic images on cigarette packs, some people are shocked into considering how smoking impacts on them and their families then the warnings will have achieved their objective." Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health added: "We should never lose sight of the detrimental impact that smoking has on our society. It remains the greatest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in Ireland, killing over 5,200 people a year."