The Tobacco Control Committee is to launch a new health warning picture on cigarette packs this week after the use of a conch in one of its designs stirred up public uproar.
The committee has withdrawn the old picture, which showed a hand-held conch being used to pour water onto the hand of a dead person to imply that smoking can cause death.
In Thai tradition, a conch is normally used for auspicious ceremonies such as weddings, not funerals.
Controversial picture replaced - Bangkok Post
August 14, 2007
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG
A graphic new warning picture to be placed on cigarette packets which will come out this week.
The Tobacco Control Committee is to launch a new health warning picture on cigarette packs this week after the use of a conch in one of its designs stirred up public uproar.
The committee has withdrawn the old picture, which showed a hand-held conch being used to pour water onto the hand of a dead person to imply that smoking can cause death.
In Thai tradition, a conch is normally used for auspicious ceremonies such as weddings, not funerals.
Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit, a committee member and secretary-general of the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation, admitted that using the conch in the picture was inappropriate.
"It was a mistake but we did not intend it. We just want to warn people about the danger of smoking," said Dr Prakit.
He insisted that graphic photos are useful in conveying clear warning messages to the public about the dangers of smoking.
His organisation spent more than 30 years campaigning to have the pictures appear on cigarette packs.
Before that, he said, there was only plain text saying "Smoking is dangerous to one's health".
During a year-long battle with the tobacco industry, the anti-smoking campaigners spearheaded by Dr Prakit's foundation came up with extensive studies on the health problems of smokers in this country and the likely impact of the pictures on smokers.
One comparative study with Canada, the first country in the world to use health warning pictures to discourage smokers, suggests they have a positive impact. The researchers found that over 40% of smokers in Canada said the warning pictures made them think about quitting smoking, while 38% said the pictures were part of the reasons that made them quit.
Thailand used graphic warning pictures on cigarette packs for the first time in 2005. It was the the fourth country in the world to do so.
The first series comprises six pictures showing the problems that smoking can contribute to _ premature wrinkles, dental problems, the impact of second-hand smoke on children, bronchitis, lung cancer and death.
All six pictures were designed to be as "scary" as possible, Dr Prakit said.
"The designers did not intend to spoil anyone's mood, but they had to pick horrifying pictures because most smokers in the country are poorly-educated and they get the message better through direct communication," he said.
He said the models in the pictures were his patients at Ramathibodi Hospital, except the one showing tar-stained teeth, which are those of a construction worker near his house.
The picture showing that smoking can cause death was strongly protested against by the tobacco industry, he said. The design staff first intended to show the stack of a crematorium or a cemetery, but finally compromised and used a graphic picture of a skull instead.
This was later replaced with the controversial picture of the body-bathing ceremony, which was endorsed along with another eight pictures as a new set of warnings late last year. Mondha Kengganpanich, deputy director of the Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Centre, said due to a slow declining rate of smokers in the country, and the increasing trend for young people to smoke, measures to help discourage smokers are necessary.
"We have come a long way and we should not go back to the beginning again," said Dr Mondha, who is now conducting a study to see how the new set of graphic pictures will affect smoking habits.
Thanapol Piamwittayakun, 24, a businessman and regular smoker, said the present warning pictures look scary enough to make smokers think twice before smoking. When he goes to a grocery store near his office, he normally asks for the a pack with least scary picture.
"That is the one with the old woman with wrinkles," he said.
Source: Bangkok Post
August 14, 2007
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG
A graphic new warning picture to be placed on cigarette packets which will come out this week.
The Tobacco Control Committee is to launch a new health warning picture on cigarette packs this week after the use of a conch in one of its designs stirred up public uproar.
The committee has withdrawn the old picture, which showed a hand-held conch being used to pour water onto the hand of a dead person to imply that smoking can cause death.
In Thai tradition, a conch is normally used for auspicious ceremonies such as weddings, not funerals.
Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit, a committee member and secretary-general of the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation, admitted that using the conch in the picture was inappropriate.
"It was a mistake but we did not intend it. We just want to warn people about the danger of smoking," said Dr Prakit.
He insisted that graphic photos are useful in conveying clear warning messages to the public about the dangers of smoking.
His organisation spent more than 30 years campaigning to have the pictures appear on cigarette packs.
Before that, he said, there was only plain text saying "Smoking is dangerous to one's health".
During a year-long battle with the tobacco industry, the anti-smoking campaigners spearheaded by Dr Prakit's foundation came up with extensive studies on the health problems of smokers in this country and the likely impact of the pictures on smokers.
One comparative study with Canada, the first country in the world to use health warning pictures to discourage smokers, suggests they have a positive impact. The researchers found that over 40% of smokers in Canada said the warning pictures made them think about quitting smoking, while 38% said the pictures were part of the reasons that made them quit.
Thailand used graphic warning pictures on cigarette packs for the first time in 2005. It was the the fourth country in the world to do so.
The first series comprises six pictures showing the problems that smoking can contribute to _ premature wrinkles, dental problems, the impact of second-hand smoke on children, bronchitis, lung cancer and death.
All six pictures were designed to be as "scary" as possible, Dr Prakit said.
"The designers did not intend to spoil anyone's mood, but they had to pick horrifying pictures because most smokers in the country are poorly-educated and they get the message better through direct communication," he said.
He said the models in the pictures were his patients at Ramathibodi Hospital, except the one showing tar-stained teeth, which are those of a construction worker near his house.
The picture showing that smoking can cause death was strongly protested against by the tobacco industry, he said. The design staff first intended to show the stack of a crematorium or a cemetery, but finally compromised and used a graphic picture of a skull instead.
This was later replaced with the controversial picture of the body-bathing ceremony, which was endorsed along with another eight pictures as a new set of warnings late last year. Mondha Kengganpanich, deputy director of the Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Centre, said due to a slow declining rate of smokers in the country, and the increasing trend for young people to smoke, measures to help discourage smokers are necessary.
"We have come a long way and we should not go back to the beginning again," said Dr Mondha, who is now conducting a study to see how the new set of graphic pictures will affect smoking habits.
Thanapol Piamwittayakun, 24, a businessman and regular smoker, said the present warning pictures look scary enough to make smokers think twice before smoking. When he goes to a grocery store near his office, he normally asks for the a pack with least scary picture.
"That is the one with the old woman with wrinkles," he said.
Source: Bangkok Post
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