Graphic warnings can save more lives
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Re: "Tobacco group to fight new health warnings in court", Business, June 26.
I agree with the Health Ministry notification that mandates graphic health warnings (text, pictorial, quitline number) on 85 per cent of the front and back of cigarette packs (up from the current 55 per cent), with 15 per cent left for the cigarette brand name.
Varaporn Namatra, executive director of the Thai Tobacco Trade Association, said: “Everyone already knows that smoking is dangerous. Thailand already has some of the biggest health warnings in the world. I can’t see why the new requirement is necessary.”
This may be the view of traders. But in respect of public health, it is essential. Research around the world confirms that the effectiveness of health warnings on cigarette packs increases as print and graphic warnings get larger. They make smokers want to quit and children less inclined to start smoking.
This notification is not about Thailand already having the biggest health warnings on cigarette packs. It is a vital and efficient way (in addition to warnings from parents and teachers) to reduce the number of new, young smokers.
Thai children are taking up smoking at the rate of about 1,000 per day. This is equivalent to the number of smokers who quit or died each day 20 years ago, and makes the number of smokers in Thailand constant at about 12 million people.
If larger health warnings on cigarette packs can help stop children becoming addicted smokers, and reduce the number of smokers overall, society should support this move.
Sutipunt Bongsununt
Kanchanaburi
