Smoking warnings worth try

THE idea of putting individual warnings on every cigarette is an interesting one, but you have to question why, given graphic warnings have been emblazoned on cigarette packets for years, people still inhale the death sticks.

Smokers seem to easily ignore printed warnings saying what they’re doing has devastating outcomes for their health.

There is no excuse to say they don’t know the risks attached to what they do, so it is hard to see how further warnings well help them see the light, but anything is worth a try.

Research from James Cook University says the graphic images on cigarette packets are losing their shock value.

This is most likely true, the warnings and plain packaging have been around for a number of years now, yet the nicotine addicts keep on puffing.

Sadly, smoking remains the largest preventable cause of death in Australia.

There are many smokers who have lost family members to lung cancer or other smoking related diseases. Yet not even this encourages them to give up.

The main thing that seems to make a difference is to hit them where it hurts – the hip pocket.

Is it fair the Government continues to make a huge amount of tax from tobacco?

Some would say no. But when their self-inflicted health ailments hit the public purse, their treatment needs to be paid for somehow.

When the price is so high and almost unaffordable for some people, this might be the only way to make a difference.

In recent years governments have tried all sorts of measures to stop people from smoking including graphic warnings, hiding cigarette displays, banning smoking in more and more places and education campaigns.

Anything that potentially helps reduce the numbers of people continuing this deadly habit is well worth a try.

Smoking is an addiction, everyone acknowledges that, but new generations of smokers really have no excuse for taking up this filthy habit.