EU Don't Play

***WARNING! GRAPHIC IMAGES TO FOLLOW!***

(I'M NOT KIDDING.)

On some level, we all know that smoking is bad for our health. But cigarette packs in Europe leave nothing to the imagination with regard to counting the ways in which smoking can affect you. In 2001,  health warnings on cigarette packages became law.

"Well, duh," all our US friends are saying, "we've had warnings on packages for decades!"

And it's true. In 1966 (a fine year, by the way) the US federal government mandated that cigarette packs contain warnings from the surgeon general. Since then smokers in the US have encountered four rotating text health warnings on the side panel of cigarette packs.

Warnings in the European Union were a little less subtle, with mandates for text health messages to cover "a minimum of 30% of the 'front' and 45% of the 'back' of the packages" (and even more space for those with two or three official languages). There were also 42 optional pictorial warnings provided to member states. Not everyone opted to use the images.

Are those text warnings effective in slowing rates of smoking? Maybe. But any sign you see over and over soon recedes into a Miss Othmar-esque message that's easy to ignore.

If, as Bread pondered, a picture paints a thousand words, then the European Commission decided an assault on the eyeballs was warranted. In 2016, a Tobacco Product Directive was launched which required the pictorial health warnings be issued on cigarette packs.

We started noticing these at the check-out counter of our local grocery store and potraviny. Karl told the boys about them at dinner one night. And he wrote his own blog post on the issue back in the fall, which includes a fun conversation with a guy who works at a local newsstand.

This all inspired my latest little hobby: collecting cigarette packs in the park when I go out for a run.

May I present, the EU's case against smoking:

"Smoking causes mouth and throat cancer."

Images and warnings are now required to cover 65% of the front and the back of the package.

"Smoking damages your teeth and gums."

Three different sets of messages rotate annually, addressing how smoking affects your health,

"Smoking causes mouth and throat cancer."

"Smoking clogs your arteries."

the health of those around you,

"Your smoke harms your children, family, and friends."

even your sex life.

"Smoking increases the risk of impotence."

Sadly, I never found one of these in the park.

The EU commissioner for health and consumer protection, David Byrne (no, not that David Byrne), never shied away from the campaign's goal. "I want to shock people out of their complacency about tobacco," Byrne said. "I make no apologies for the pictures we are using."

"Quit smoking — stay alive for those close to you."

The EU looked at a study of smoking trends in Canada which suggested that incorporating graphic warnings helped curb smoking rates.

"Smoking causes heart attacks."

Would this work in the United States? We may never know.

"Smoking reduces fertility."

In 2011 the FDA required that color graphics of health warnings accompany text warnings on packages. Images and messages were prepared and ready to go. (You can see them here.) They were scheduled to debut on packages by September 2012.

"Smokers' children are more likely to start smoking."

Alas, tobacco companies challenged the mandate. The US Court of Appeals vacated the rule and denied the government's petition for rehearing.

"Smoking causes 9 out of 10 lung cancers."

The government decided not to pursue further review of the Court's ruling. Thanks Big Tobacco!

"Smoking causes 9 out of 10 lung cancers."

Ah, well — at least we're not using images of doctors and dentists in cigarette ads anymore!

Interesting factoid: my dad — an MD — smoked. Even after his bouts with tuberculosis! To his credit he quit, and he did so long before my brothers and I were born.

I think the boys will be happy that I finally got this post up, as I'm less likely to bring home icky cig packs from my ventures out in pursuit of cardio-vascular health.

"Smoking clogs your arteries."

In setting these up for photos, I was surprised to find that one of the packs was almost half full.

Care for a smoke?