Australia proposes tough cigarette packaging rules

Source: AP

http://l.yimg.com/hv/api/res/1.2/l6QkwXgAgjF7BOqMzosXqg--/YXBwaWQ9eWZpbmFuY2U7aD0yNDc7dz0yNDA-/

SYDNEY (AP) -- Australia said Thursday it will force tobacco companies to strip all logos and color from their packaging, a move that will leave cigarette packs decorated with only a few words and graphic warning images of shriveled, diseased lungs or gangrenous toes.

The government said the move would make Australia the world's toughest country on tobacco advertising and is aimed unashamedly at driving more people away from the habit.

"The new branding for cigarettes will be the most hard-line regime in the world and cigarette companies will hate it," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told a news conference at which he waved a mock-up packet bearing a large photo of a gangrenous foot.

Health groups and anti-smoking campaigners welcomed the plan. The tobacco industry condemned it, with one manufacturer threatening to sue on the ground that it infringed intellectual property rights.

Read more: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Australia-proposes-tough-apf-479500488.html?x=0&.v=12

Read the book Buyology (and there is a lot of research out there). It turns out these graphic imagines actually stimulate the craving as much as joe camel ads do. the best thing that the government can do is tax the hell out of it and ban advertising, but otherwise shut up about it.

And that, eventually, will do the job. Let the current addicts smoke all they want - if the font is drying up, the carnage will end. Eventually.

after graphic warnings were added to the packs.

On the other point though, the taxes have been increased as of today by 25%. Not sure where they got the figures, but Rudd announced that the moves were projected to prevent some 15,000 smoking related deaths.

My health "insurance" (private plan) is really pushing to quit smoking and is going to penalize those who don't. Maybe if you are in your 20s, 30s, or even 40s, but 50s or 60s? Tell me, what is the point of no return? Everyone I have ever know who smoked for DECADES got some form of cancer years after they quit. Those who didn't quit, didn't develope cancer and died from other causes in their 70s and 80s. I worked in a nursing home and saw this. The doctors said well if they have lived into their 70s and 80s, let them smoke if it makes them happy. They are going to die sooner rather than later of SOMETHING.

An autopsy confirmed that smoking was a contributing factor.

My mom had many ailments in her later years that doctors told her were aggravated by and possibly caused by her smoking.

Cancer is the worst thing, but the least of what a smoker has to worry about.

I've know a few smokers that lived in their 90's, and funny thing is nobody died from second hand smoke from being around them!

I know their are people out their WILL tell you second hand smoke is bad (and now third hand smoking). People hear it on the news and believe it in a fact! May be it is bad but who really knows?

That'd kick ass. They could even include a screaming/crying motion sensor.

I've often thought about loaning my 16-year-old daughter out to couples

thinking about having children.... that should make a pretty good dent

in the rising population problem.



:evilgrin:

Wow. They're playing hardball.

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I smoke, and there are pictures like this on the tobacco warnings in the UK. They don't make me want to stop smoking, they just gross me out a little - I get used to them. What I like is that it gets rid of stupid brand logos. I think this should be extended to any and all products, along with an advertising ban.

For cigarette cases should increase.

Without hurting yourself.

As an Expat and they continuously run commercials of diseased lungs and pictures of people with cancerous body part