- Smokers 16% more likely to quit if given cigarettes with warnings
- One cigarette had timeline showing how much smokers were shortening their lives with every puff, while another featured toxic ingredients
- Last month ministers agreed to consider plain-package cigarettes
- Australia was the first country to introduce plain packaging
By
Sophie Borland Health Reporter
21:33 EST, 22 December 2013
|
05:42 EST, 23 December 2013
Health warnings on individual cigarettes – rather than just the packaging – would urge more smokers to quit, research shows.
They include timelines showing people that each cigarette shortens their life by 11 minutes and a list of harmful chemicals.
Academics from Bangor University want to carry out further work but are now urging the Government to consider the warnings.
Researchers have found that health warnings on individual cigarettes, rather than just the packaging, would urge more smokers to quit
In a u-turn last month, ministers finally agreed to consider introducing plain-package cigarettes in the hope they will be less appealing to young smokers.
The Government announced an independent review of the policy which could lead to all tobacco firms having to use plain packaging by 2015.
In this latest study, Dr Louise Hassan from Bangor University’s Business School found smokers were 16 per cent more likely to quit if given cigarettes with health warnings.
She recruited 200 smokers from Scotland and Greece who were shown a variety of normal cigaretes and those with health warnings.
One type had a timeline of 11 minutes printed along its length to show how much the smoker was shortening their life with every puff.
Another had a list of toxins contained inside the cigarette including arsenic, benzene and formaldehyde.
In this latest study, Dr Louise Hassan from Bangor University¿s Business School found smokers were 16 per cent more likely to quit if given cigarettes with health warnings
Dr
Hassan now plans to lobby the expert appointed by the Government to
lead the review into plain packaging, a paediatrician Sir Cyril
Chantler.
Her study was
published in the journal Tobacco Control and she said other warnings
could include listing the dangers of second-hand smoke on children and
friends.
Last year Australia became the first country in the world to introduce plain packaging and all brands are sold in olive-coloured boxes with health warnings.
They include stark messages such as ‘smoking causes lung cancer,’ ‘smoking harms unborn babies’ and ‘quitting smoking could significantly improve your health.’
Early evidence has already shown it to be highly effective and a study found it led to smokers being 81 per cent more likely to quit.
The Australian government opted for olive-coloured packaging which is deemed less healthy and appealing than white.
Last year Australia became the first country in the world to introduce plain packaging and all brands are sold in olive-coloured boxes with health warnings
The charity Cancer Research UK has previously claimed the policy would ‘save thousands of lives’ from lung cancer as well as other forms including breast and mouth.
In a statement last month, its chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said: ‘The evidence shows children are attracted to glitzy, slickly-designed cigarettes and packs and every year more than 207,000 UK children between 11 and 15 start smoking.
‘We are urging the government to introduce standardised packaging to discourage these children from starting this life-threatening habit and to prioritise children’s health over tobacco company profits.’
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The comments below have not been moderated.
gazzakickboxer,
sussex, United Kingdom,
13 minutes ago
othing will stop people from smoking, even making the packets £20, leave them alone and let them smoke….
Judge Mental,
London, United Kingdom,
18 minutes ago
You really have to wonder about “academics†who actually think that smokers study the packets that they buy.
Quasar,
Cambridge, United Kingdom,
28 minutes ago
As I stated in another post – its papers like YOU, DM, that encourage people to smoke, , have a look at YOUR OWN images, you talk about cutting down on smoking then you glorify it with huge hi-res pics of a packet and a lit ciggie.
Why could you not just have NO images, then you would be helping !!!
peter,
manchester,
29 minutes ago
Just how big are they going to make cigarette packets.
WearyofitallUk,
Darlington, United Kingdom,
30 minutes ago
My research shows that any political party that continues with the persecution of smokers has,nt got a cat in hell,s chance of winning an election
Steven,
Hartlepool, United Kingdom,
41 minutes ago
And just when you thought things couldn’t get more ridiculous….this comes along. If anything, all these warnings on everything are doing is desensitising people against dangers.
Scotty,
Cambridge,
42 minutes ago
Everybody over the of 12 is fully aware of the dangers of taking drugs but the drug barons get richer by the day. The “it won’t happen to me†brigade are still with us in ever increasing numbers.
working hard,
Manchester,
50 minutes ago
Im an ex smoker and what harm it can do didn’t deter me at all- its just another thing you put out your mind, like it won’t happen to me- I quit when pregnant and stayed off cigs because of the cost
they should put the costs on the packet- one pack a day for 12 months costs you this much or, what you save if you quit- like this 5 star holiday could be yours if you quit and save.
Or put things that we know happen like- your teeth are yellow, your breath smells , your children are embarrassed that you smoke- that would put me off
KNG,
Hope Valley, United Kingdom,
51 minutes ago
And do nothing about drugs of course.
Natty01,
Kent, United Kingdom,
57 minutes ago
Everyone knows they are harmful, if the government were that bothered about it then stop then make them illegal. No matter of price or health warnings if people want to smoke they will smoke!
Bobby57 Nottingham,
Nottingham, United Kingdom,
23 minutes ago
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