Search Here

New research findings suggest that ugly graphic warnings of diseases directly and indirectly caused by smoking are likely to drive smokers to kick their unhealthy habit.

Back in the day, cigarette ads used to portray power and manliness until governments realized that diseases linked to smoking were increasingly becoming a danger to public health.

In an effort to curb the destructive habit of smoking, a number of countries around the world have started to implement stringent regulations on tobacco marketing and advertising. One of the seemingly draconian anti-tobacco measures involved placing disgusting images on cigarette packaging.

"People exposed to graphic warnings, other than just the text, remember more about the health effects," told Ellen Peters, a psychology at Ohio State University and the study's co-author as quoted saying by NY Daily News.

The study monitored the smoking habits of 244 people who smoked around 5 to 40 sticks a day. The smokers were grouped into three and were given cigarettes of their choice. One group received cigarette packages with the usual worded warnings. The other group, however, got packages with strong graphic warnings. The last group got both disturbing graphic and text warnings.

According to Philly.com, smokers who saw both stern text warnings accompanied by disgusting pictures on the warning labels made the smokers think twice about smoking.

In another note, Australia has taken the toughest stance on tobacco products so far by requiring same dull brown colored packaging for all cigarette brands wrapped with nasty images of health warnings making the country the least-friendly place for smokers as mentioned by Vox.