New Health Warnings on Individual Cigarette Sticks to Deter Aussie Smokers
Aussie smokers will be faced with new reminders of the consequences of their harmful habit, as new warning labels are set to be introduced on individual cigarette sticks. These changes are part of a series of mandatory updates to tobacco products that will take effect starting Tuesday.
The new warning labels will be printed on the filter of each cigarette, making it impossible for smokers to ignore the health messaging. According to a joint statement from Quit and Cancer Council, one of eight on-product health messages must be duplicated on opposite sides of the filter of every cigarette.
Australia is the second country in the world to implement warnings on individual sticks, following in the footsteps of Canada. The phrases on the new labels will include messages like ’causes 16 cancers’ and ‘damages your lungs’.
Professor Sarah Durkin of Cancer Council Victoria emphasized the importance of updated messaging to discourage Australians from smoking. She stated, “Graphic health warnings have long proven effective in increasing knowledge about the harms of smoking, preventing smoking uptake, and encouraging people who smoke to quit.”
However, Professor Durkin also noted that the effectiveness of current warnings has decreased over time, as people have become desensitized to the images. The new graphic health warnings aim to highlight lesser-known harms of smoking, such as diabetes, erectile dysfunction, cervical cancer, DNA damage, and the impact of second-hand smoke on children’s lung capacity.
Quit Director Rachael Andersen believes that these changes will serve as a disincentive to smoke and provide a bridge to support services for those looking to quit. She stated, “Our hope is that these new changes will provide new education to people who smoke about the harms at the same time as informing them of the supports to quit.”
Cancer Council’s Tobacco Issues Committee chairperson, Alecia Brooks, expressed pride in Australia becoming one of the first countries to require evidence-based health promotion inserts and on-stick messaging. Despite the country’s relatively low smoking prevalence, smoking remains a top public health concern with 66 Australians dying from smoking-related illnesses every day.
The changes coincide with the recent ban on menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products, which aims to discourage new smokers from starting the habit. Retailers have a three-month grace period to sell through existing stock that complies with the old legislation before full enforcement takes effect.
The Cancer Council spokeswoman highlighted the dangers of menthol cigarettes, stating that they can act as a gateway to nicotine dependence. The ban serves as a reminder that there is no safe way to smoke, and even seemingly “smooth” cigarettes pose significant health risks.
The changes in tobacco packaging and labeling are a step towards educating smokers about the harms of smoking and encouraging them to quit. With new graphic health warnings and informative inserts, Australia is taking proactive measures to address the public health concerns associated with smoking.
