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Australia is great in regards to cigarettes. On all packets, it shows gruesome images of what happens to you if you smoke, all labels are black with a standardi

by lachyg 16y ago

Australia is great in regards to cigarettes. On all packets, it shows gruesome images of what happens to you if you smoke, all labels are black with a standardised white text, so no brand recognition. They're all behind a blacked out cabinet too. See: http://www.google.com.au/images?q=australian+cigarette+packages&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1440&bih=722 http://www.google.com.au/images?q=australian+cigarette+packa...

mootothemax 16y ago
On all packets, it shows gruesome images of what happens to you if you smoke Which I believe does more harm than good. I know plenty of smokers who get through a pack a day; do you think this is more likely to inform smokers about health risks that they're not already aware of, or is it more likely to desensitise them to these risks? I'm also curious to know who behind this plan doesn't remember being a 10-year-old and being fascinated by everything disgusting.
- bpyne 16y ago
  The entry point for new smokers is a little older than 10. I think it's more like the early teen years. At that point, I think the "gruesome is cool" phase has abated a bit. Besides, the attraction towards gruesome has to war with young people's preference for sweet tastes. There is nothing sweet about the smell of cigarette smoke. It's incredibly bitter and acrid smelling. The smell was one major reason I never tried tobacco despite both my parents being smokers. To catch young people in their market, I think tobacco companies focus more on teens' need for social belonging and defining their identity.
  - duncanj 16y ago
    As someone who used to smoke "Black Death" cigarettes, I'm inclined to disagree. Perhaps they should put Goatse on each pack, and then people wouldn't be inclined to carry the packs around.
    - bpyne 16y ago
      I'm curious. Did the imagery influence your decision to start or your decision on which brand or both?
defroost 16y ago
Man, you would think that almost ghoulish imagery in the URL you posted would keep people from buying cigarettes, but I imagine people still buy them in droves nonetheless. I like that at least the Australian government doesn't cave to the Tobacco companies.
- ugh 16y ago
  Addiction’s a bitch. I don’t smoke but I tend to eat too much with predictable consequences I know full well about. It is possible for me to keep my eating in control (I have for nearly six months now and am very proud of that) but that demands tons of strong, strong, strong willpower. It’s exhausting and I will have to keep that will strong for the rest of my life.
  - Misha_B 16y ago
    A bit offtopic but overeating depends a lot on types of food you consume. Removing hunger inflicting components from your diet may make not overeating a matter of habit rather than of willpower. May have a look here: http://www.paleonu.com/get-started/ http://www.paleonu.com/get-started/ Has been helpful for me.
    - ugh 16y ago
      Changing my diet helps a bit. (It keeps my weight more or less constant if I’m really strict about it. At the moment I still want to lose weight, though.) But since I do actually love eating pasta changing my diet in such a way also requires a lot of constant willpower. I don’t see a lot of difference to plain old calorie counting. I try to do both, though – eat healthier and different things (with the occasional pasta day to keep me happy) and count calories. Counting calories and constant monitoring (for rewards) are the two cornerstones of my current weight loss (and it works) but I very much try to sneak a better diet in and I also really should start doing more sports.
- cameronh90 16y ago
  I don't smoke, but I don't think that imagery would stop me buying cigarettes if I did. I know how horrific the potential consequences of riding a motorcycle or driving a car look, but I still do that. The insides of even a relatively healthy old person won't look particularly pleasant either. The fact is, people will be aware that not everyone who smokes ends up looking like those images, which will help them ignore them; "It'll never happen to me", regardless of how likely it actually is.

by lachyg 16y ago

mootothemax 16y ago

On all packets, it shows gruesome images of what happens to you if you smoke Which I believe does more harm than good. I know plenty of smokers who get through a pack a day; do you think this is more likely to inform smokers about health risks that they're not already aware of, or is it more likely to desensitise them to these risks? I'm also curious to know who behind this plan doesn't remember being a 10-year-old and being fascinated by everything disgusting.

bpyne 16y ago
The entry point for new smokers is a little older than 10. I think it's more like the early teen years. At that point, I think the "gruesome is cool" phase has abated a bit. Besides, the attraction towards gruesome has to war with young people's preference for sweet tastes. There is nothing sweet about the smell of cigarette smoke. It's incredibly bitter and acrid smelling. The smell was one major reason I never tried tobacco despite both my parents being smokers. To catch young people in their market, I think tobacco companies focus more on teens' need for social belonging and defining their identity.
- duncanj 16y ago
  As someone who used to smoke "Black Death" cigarettes, I'm inclined to disagree. Perhaps they should put Goatse on each pack, and then people wouldn't be inclined to carry the packs around.
  - bpyne 16y ago
    I'm curious. Did the imagery influence your decision to start or your decision on which brand or both?

defroost 16y ago

Man, you would think that almost ghoulish imagery in the URL you posted would keep people from buying cigarettes, but I imagine people still buy them in droves nonetheless. I like that at least the Australian government doesn't cave to the Tobacco companies.

ugh 16y ago
Addiction’s a bitch. I don’t smoke but I tend to eat too much with predictable consequences I know full well about. It is possible for me to keep my eating in control (I have for nearly six months now and am very proud of that) but that demands tons of strong, strong, strong willpower. It’s exhausting and I will have to keep that will strong for the rest of my life.
- Misha_B 16y ago
  A bit offtopic but overeating depends a lot on types of food you consume. Removing hunger inflicting components from your diet may make not overeating a matter of habit rather than of willpower. May have a look here: http://www.paleonu.com/get-started/ http://www.paleonu.com/get-started/ Has been helpful for me.
  - ugh 16y ago
    Changing my diet helps a bit. (It keeps my weight more or less constant if I’m really strict about it. At the moment I still want to lose weight, though.) But since I do actually love eating pasta changing my diet in such a way also requires a lot of constant willpower. I don’t see a lot of difference to plain old calorie counting. I try to do both, though – eat healthier and different things (with the occasional pasta day to keep me happy) and count calories. Counting calories and constant monitoring (for rewards) are the two cornerstones of my current weight loss (and it works) but I very much try to sneak a better diet in and I also really should start doing more sports.
cameronh90 16y ago
I don't smoke, but I don't think that imagery would stop me buying cigarettes if I did. I know how horrific the potential consequences of riding a motorcycle or driving a car look, but I still do that. The insides of even a relatively healthy old person won't look particularly pleasant either. The fact is, people will be aware that not everyone who smokes ends up looking like those images, which will help them ignore them; "It'll never happen to me", regardless of how likely it actually is.