Disease Proof

Anti-smoking campaigns always come off as mamby-pamby. Why don’t we just shut down tobacco producers? Oh the heck with that idea! Instead, let’s put revolting pictures on packs of cigarettes. The AFP reports:

All packets of cigarettes and other tobacco products sold in Britain will have to feature graphic photographs showing the effects of smoking from next year, government ministers said Wednesday.


The move was unveiled by Health Secretary Alan Johnson, who said it would shock more people into quitting, while a spokeswoman for the Department of Health confirmed it came about following a European directive in 2001.

Belgium was the first European Union member state to publish warning photos on cigarette packets, but Britain is going a step further by applying the rule to all tobacco products.

Surely you’re curious. Here’s one of the pictures: