As part of the drive towards tobacco control, Australia has unveiled a new series of compulsory measures that aim at cigarette packets and single cigarettes. From Tuesday, smokers will be faced with explicit health warnings imprinted on the filters of their cigarettes, leaving them with no option but to appreciate the risks of smoking.
Australia became the second nation, after Canada, to place such on-product messages. The Department of Health and Aged Care requested one of eight approved warnings to be stamped on each side of every cigarette filter. The warnings start from statements like “Causes 16 cancers” to “Damages your lungs.”
Health experts hope that this action will further contribute to the risks of smoking enormously. Professor Sarah Durkin of Cancer Council Victoria stressed that current messaging is necessary in order to keep individuals reminded. She further stated that graphic cigarette warnings have acted as a deterrent against smoking and encouraged individuals to quit smoking, but the impact has decreased over time as well since smokers have become used to these warnings.
“New warnings identify other health hazards that some smokers may be unaware of, including diabetes, erectile dysfunction, cervical cancer, DNA damage, and second-hand smoke’s effects on the lungs of children,” Professor Durkin said.
moking Director Rachael Andersen further noted that this move not only acts as a deterrent but also creates a connection between smokers and quitting services offered to them. “We hope these changes will serve as an ongoing reminder of the harm of smoking as well as inform smokers about resources to quit,” she stated.
As part of Australia’s wide-ranging tobacco control plan, cigarette packs will now have 10 new graphic health warnings and 10 health inserts detailing the advantages of quitting, and details on support programs. The move comes after Australia phased out menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products from Monday.
A Cancer Council spokesperson said why menthol cigarettes were banned, adding that menthols are the first port of call for new smokers and lead to greater nicotine dependence. “This ban reinforces the message that there is no safe way to smoke. Even a ‘softer’ cigarette is just as toxic,” the spokesperson said.
Shoppers have been granted a three-month grace period from Tuesday to dispose of existing stock that does not meet the new standards. But after that transition period, all Australian cigarette products will be required to strictly adhere to the new health-oriented packaging and on-stick warning standards.
Despite Australia’s relatively low smoking rates compared to global figures, health experts continue to stress that smoking remains a significant public health issue. With 66 Australians dying daily from smoking-related illnesses, organizations like the Cancer Council remain committed to reducing tobacco’s deadly impact.
These recent regulatory shifts are another part of Australia’s continuing crusade against smoking and upholding public health. By having warnings regarding health completely unavoidable—on the packs and on actual cigarette filters—the government hopes to discourage even more smoking and assist those trying to quit.
