| DoH announces picture warnings on cigarette packets | Posted on 29/09/2008 in Medical Government/ NHS related news The Department of Health (DoH) has announced cigarette packets will feature "stark" picture warnings from the start of next month.
It said the UK will be the first country in the EU to feature graphic picture warnings on all tobacco products to illustrate the effects of the substance on health.
Pictures will include images of throat cancer, rotting teeth and lungs and a "flaccid cigarette" - to illustrate impotence caused by smoking - and will replace the written warnings which were introduced in January 2003.
The government said written warnings have been hugely successful, with more than 90,000 smokers being motivated to contact the NHS Smoking Helpline since their introduction more than five years ago.
Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer of the company, said: "I welcome the introduction of picture warnings on tobacco product packaging, which show smokers the grim reality of the effects smoking can have on their health."
He added this move will help maintain the momentum of the rising number of people giving up smoking since the habit was banned in public spaces last year.
Last week, research conducted by Yale University revealed casual smokers are five times as likely as non-smokers to experience alcohol-related disorders.Other news stories from 29/09/2008
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