Powerful images referencing specific diseases may be tobacco users’ only source of information about health risks
We advise governments in designing hard-hitting graphic pack warnings to influence public attitudes toward tobacco use and urge them to prohibit misleading labels like “light,” “mild” and “low tar.”
Research has shown that large, culturally appropriate graphic pack warnings are among the most effective means to encourage people to stop using tobacco. Striking images can compel tobacco users to quit, increase knowledge of the health risks of tobacco use, and promote behavior change in both smokers and nonsmokers.
How we work
Advocating for strong health warnings
Providing long-term support for the successful adoption of tobacco control regulations in Georgia that require, among other measures, larger graphic health warnings covering 65% of the front of tobacco packs.
Partnering with Pakistan’s Ministry of Health to run a multiyear advocacy campaign placing 100,000 posters depicting a foot severely damaged by tobacco use in kiosks in 10 big cities to discourage children from buying and smoking cigarettes.
Creating graphic pack warnings and supporting their implementation
Collaborating with Mexico’s Ministry of Health to produce “Cigarettes Are Eating Your Baby Alive,” the country’s first-ever TV and radio campaign to reinforce graphic health warnings on cigarette packs.
Supporting the Philippine Department of Health in 2021 to create graphic warnings for the packaging of electronic tobacco products after the government became the second in the world to require such warnings not just on traditional cigarettes, but also on electronic products.
Partnering with the World Health Organization to devise a health warning for packs that has been used in more than a half dozen countries in Francophone Africa.
We urge governments to follow the example of the 16 countries that have implemented “plain packaging” for some or all tobacco products. Requiring that tobacco products be in standard, generic packaging with no industry logos, slogans or artwork is an effective tobacco control measure that reduces the appeal of tobacco products, enhances the impact of health warnings, diminishes consumer deception and ultimately reduces tobacco consumption rates.
Plain packs stop the tobacco industry from masking a deadly product with attractive packaging
We urge governments to follow the example of the 16 countries that have implemented “plain packaging” for some or all tobacco products. Requiring that tobacco products be in standard, generic packaging with no industry logos, slogans or artwork is an effective tobacco control measure that reduces the appeal of tobacco products, enhances the impact of health warnings, diminishes consumer deception and ultimately reduces tobacco consumption rates.
