Just like cigarettes

Smoking was once so widespread that it would have been impossible to imagine a world where smoking was regarded as a bad habit.

cigarettes v cars [1]

Warning labels work

“Studies consistently show that “fear inducing warnings (using strong ‘shocking’ images related to health risks) and strong emotion inducing warnings (especially involving children and unborn babies) are the most effective way to educate consumers on the health risks of tobacco use and to achieve changes in attitudes and behaviour.” – Tobacco labeling meta-study[2]

Canadian leadership

Canada became the first country to require pictorial tobacco warnings in 2001.[3] Since then, our innovation has spread all over the world to save countless lives. How did we do this? We didn’t go to endless international conferences to point fingers at other countries while doing nothing ourselves; we decided to lead. Canada took a good hard look at a pressing issue and acted boldly. And we’re about to do it again.

NEXT: Can a few councillors make a difference?…

Go Back: Explore the Issues…

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Endnotes

  1. Selected Actions of the U.S. Government Regarding the Regulation of Tobacco Sales, Marketing, and Use.Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2. Sambrook Research International. “A review of the science base to support the development of health warnings for tobacco packages.Sambrook Research International, Newport, England. 2009. Page 1.
  3. Tobacco packages must display pictorial warnings.World Health Organization. June 2, 2009.

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