October 24, 2004
New EU anti-smoking campaign
I don't smoke and I admit I don't always appreciate to be surrounded with heavy smokers but is this really necessary?
The EU head office wants EU governments to require cigarette makers to display the photos on their products, hoping the images will have more force than written warnings now on packs of cigarettes, including "smoking kills" or "smoking can lead to a slow and painful death" . . .Posted by Carine at October 24, 2004 12:03 PMCanada has used similar graphics and warnings on cigarette packs since 2000, and studies indicate there has since been a slight decrease in smoking.
The warnings are central to a new $90 million media campaign to discourage European young people from smoking.
It's an awful like raising taxes in a high-taxation environment - look at the length and cost one has to go to, in order to gain a SLIGHT benefit.
Posted by: Joe N. at October 24, 2004 12:32 PMI am indeed waiting for cigarette packs - or whatever we have to pay for in France - with warnings in capital letters saying "Taxes kill."
They don't want people to stop smoking, they just want a "reason" to tax us - smokers, non-smokers ($90 million media campaign) and ultimately firms I guess - more.
Posted by: Carine at October 24, 2004 12:44 PMI swear Carine, I'll stop smoking ! Hervé
Posted by: ashamed-frenchman at October 24, 2004 01:58 PMParole, parole, parole... ;)
Posted by: Carine at October 24, 2004 02:20 PMAnd the smoking jihad comes courtesy of the same general crowd that complains most about fetus pictures...
The real question is - whose relative owns the ad firm that will land the $90 million account?
Posted by: Doug at October 25, 2004 02:39 PMSmoking near children is child abuse.
Smokers who do so are child abusers.
