The new FDA anti-smoking health warnings that will take their place on newer cigarette packs are some of the most graphic and shocking efforts yet. But will it work? The labels feature images of a man exhaling smoke through a hole in his neck, a corpse with stitches over his chest who presumably died of lung disease and many others with blunt statements such as "Cigarettes Cause Fatal Lung disease" and "Smoking Can Kill You."
US Government officials announced today that the images must be added to all cigarette packaging and advertising in the U.S. by October 2012. The images are the biggest change to warning labels in over 25 years, but the anchor who broke the story made a great point, saying that if $14/pack hasn't done anything to reduce smoking levels, he's not sure how the new images will have any real impact.
According to The Wall Street Journal, "The U.S. is following more than 40 countries that have already put graphic warnings on cigarettes. Current warning labels, which were put on cigarette packs in the 1980s, are contained in a small box with black and white text warning about the dangers of smoking."
Shocking Anti-Smoking Ads
The New FDA Anti-Smoking Health Warnings are Graphic and Effective
Trend Themes
1. Graphic Health Warnings - The use of graphic health warnings on tobacco products can disrupt the tobacco industry by reducing demand and promoting healthier lifestyles.
2. Effective Anti-smoking Ads - The creation of more effective anti-smoking ads that use shocking images and messages can disrupt the advertising industry by changing consumers' attitudes and behaviors towards smoking.
3. Global Implementation of Health Warnings - The global implementation of graphic health warnings on tobacco products can disrupt the tobacco industry by creating a more uniform approach to anti-smoking campaigns and increasing awareness worldwide.
Industry Implications
1. Tobacco Industry - The tobacco industry can disrupt itself by investing in alternative health-related products and diversifying its product line to move towards a more health-conscious market.
2. Advertising Industry - The advertising industry can disrupt itself by creating more ethical advertising content that promotes healthy lifestyles and values social responsibility over profits.
3. Health and Wellness Industry - The health and wellness industry can disrupt itself by investing in research and development of alternative smoking cessation products that do not require nicotine replacement therapy or medication, such as inhalers or behavioral therapy programs.