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| Graphic images to target smokers | Graphic images to target smokers |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The UK will next week become the first European country to introduce graphic images on cigarette packets to warn about the dangers of smoking. | The UK will next week become the first European country to introduce graphic images on cigarette packets to warn about the dangers of smoking. |
| The 15 different images will include pictures of a diseased lung and heart surgery being performed. | The 15 different images will include pictures of a diseased lung and heart surgery being performed. |
| They will start to be introduced on 1 October, but it will be another year before all packets contain them as existing stock will have to be sold. | They will start to be introduced on 1 October, but it will be another year before all packets contain them as existing stock will have to be sold. |
| The images will replace the written warnings that started in 2003. | The images will replace the written warnings that started in 2003. |
| And other tobacco products will be expected to follow suit by 2010. | And other tobacco products will be expected to follow suit by 2010. |
| The Department of Health said the written warnings had been a success with research showing more than 90,000 smokers had been motivated to call the NHS quit line because of them. | The Department of Health said the written warnings had been a success with research showing more than 90,000 smokers had been motivated to call the NHS quit line because of them. |
| These new stark picture warnings emphasise the harsh health realities of continuing to smoke. Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer In pictures: Smoking images | These new stark picture warnings emphasise the harsh health realities of continuing to smoke. Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer In pictures: Smoking images |
| But officials said it was time to take a tougher approach after progress made in countries that have already introduced them. | But officials said it was time to take a tougher approach after progress made in countries that have already introduced them. |
| Canada became the first nation to use images in 2001 with surveys one year on showing a third of quitters had been motivated by the images. | Canada became the first nation to use images in 2001 with surveys one year on showing a third of quitters had been motivated by the images. |
| Similar warnings are also used in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand and Singapore, prompting the EU to encourage European countries to act. | Similar warnings are also used in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand and Singapore, prompting the EU to encourage European countries to act. |
| Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said: "Written health warnings have encouraged many smokers to stop. | Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said: "Written health warnings have encouraged many smokers to stop. |
| "These new stark picture warnings emphasise the harsh health realities of continuing to smoke." | "These new stark picture warnings emphasise the harsh health realities of continuing to smoke." |
| And Deborah Arnott, director of anti-smoking campaign group Ash, added: "The introduction of picture warnings on tobacco products is a strong visual reminder of the horrendous illnesses caused by smoking and the evidence is that they work." | And Deborah Arnott, director of anti-smoking campaign group Ash, added: "The introduction of picture warnings on tobacco products is a strong visual reminder of the horrendous illnesses caused by smoking and the evidence is that they work." |
| But Simon Clark, of smokers' lobby group Forest, said smokers were being "unfairly" targeted, pointing out images are not being introduced on drinks. | But Simon Clark, of smokers' lobby group Forest, said smokers were being "unfairly" targeted, pointing out images are not being introduced on drinks. |
| "There will be a little impact in the short-term, but in the long-term they will just become wallpaper and be ignored." | "There will be a little impact in the short-term, but in the long-term they will just become wallpaper and be ignored." |
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