Graphic warnings will deter smokers, experts hope

Teenagers and heavy smokers said graphic images on cigarette packets will have no impact on their smoking habits but experts said they send a strong message. "I have been seeing pictures like this on leaflets throughout our school, but they have never really made me stop," said N.H., a 17-year-old student in the capital. "My friends and I are used to seeing these kinds of pictures, so they do not horrify us. We smoke because it is something to do when we are bored." He said he had been smoking between five cigarettes and a packet a day for nearly five years. Not alarmed Another resident, A.S., said it is unlikely he will see the graphic image long enough for him to be alarmed by it. The 26-year-old executive said he was a social smoker of about three cigarettes a day. "I usually borrow cigarettes from a friend instead of buying a pack," he said. "Even a higher price for cigarette packs will not make us stop. We will simply buy a cheaper brand." Health authorities and medical experts remain hopeful new packets will have the same effect on reducing smoking in the UAE as in other countries. "Graphic labels show the true toxic nature of tobacco products on the human body," said Dr Wedad Al Maidour, head of the tobacco control committee at the Ministry of Health. "It has shown that repeated exposure to these images is effective in changing people's behaviour." In a bid to encourage smokers to give up, packets of cigarettes across the country will soon be covered by large graphic images that show the harmful effects of the habit on vital organs. The initiative was approved last month by the UAE Cabinet. "Following the implementation of this initiative by mid-2012, more than half of the packs will be covered by the pictures, and they will include written warnings," Dr Wedad said. "In addition, there will also be pictures of organs in people who are simply exposed to tobacco smoke, such as passive smokers and pregnant women. This will hopefully induce smokers to give up the habit for the benefit of their loved ones." More than 18 per cent of the UAE's adult population smoke, according to a 2003 survey, but Dr Wedad believes that the proportion is now significantly higher. The UAE Cabinet's decision is part of a move within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to implement new standards for tobacco products and warn consumers of their effects. Pictorial warnings The pictorial warnings are already mandated in many other countries, including the UK, Canada, Singapore, Australia and Brazil. Explaining the thinking behind the warnings, Dr Sabrina Tahboub-Schulte, assistant professor of Psychology at the American University of Sharjah, said images were proven to be more effective than text. "Studies have shown that the shocking images increase fear and anxiety among people, and therefore may motivate smokers to quit," Dr Tahboub-Schulte said. "So it is also particularly useful if cigarette packs provide information on programs that can help smokers give up the habit." While the impact of the pictures may wear off, people could begin to associate them with smoking and stay away from tobacco products, she added.