World No Tobacco Day

The World No Tobacco Day 2009 theme is “Tobacco Health Warnings”. Every year the World health Organization (WHO) holds an anti-tobacco day in an effort to slow the effect that tobacco is having on the world’s health. In 2009 the World No Tobacco Day will be focused on forcing tobacco companies to display picture warnings on tobacco packages that will hopefully encourage tobacco users to quit.

Many countries have already enacted laws that require images of cancer to appear on tobacco products like this one:


Many people are aware of the health risk associated with tobacco, but it is hard for them to truly understand the harm that tobacco can have on a person’s body until they see it. Displaying graphic and honest images of the harm tobacco can cause is a proven and effective way to entice people to quit.

Other countries have already enacted the tobacco packaging laws that are being proposed by the WHO. In these countries the results are undeniable:

In Canada, 58% of smokers said the warnings made them think more about the health effects of smoking.
In Brazil, 67% of smokers said the warnings made them want to quit, and 54% said they made them change their opinion about the health consequences of smoking.
In Singapore, 28% of smokers said the warnings made them smoke fewer cigarettes, and one out of six said they avoided smoking in front of children as a result of the warnings.
In Thailand, 44% of smokers said the warnings made them "a lot" more likely to quit over the next month, and 53% said they made them think "a lot" about the health risks.

The WHO’s official statement for the 2009 World No Tobacco Day is that “Health warnings on tobacco packages that combine text and pictures are one of the most cost-effective ways to increase public awareness of the serious health risks of tobacco use and to reduce tobacco consumption. “

 Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and kills more than five million people every year; this is more than HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria combines. Tobacco is the only legal product that kills the consumer when used exactly as the manufacturer recommends.