Ireland - to amend tobacco legislation to to include pictorail warnings..

June 10, 2009 - As the theme of this year’s global No Tobacco Day without just cause. Starting on May 31st, global No Tobacco Day - WHO began a major information and lobbying campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of cigarette advertising. It also emphasized the effectiveness of placing pictorial images directly on cigarette packaging in dissuading people from starting smoking and providing an unambiguous depiction of the consequences of smoking for those who already smoke.

Proposals have already been submitted to Irish Government to amend the existing tobacco legislation, and one of these amendments will allow the Minister for Health to introduce combined text and photo warnings on tobacco products. It is anticipated that this will be enacted before the Dáil summer recess.

Popular wisdom would dictate that people are free to choose whether to smoke and graphic images would be unlikely to affect their knowledge of, or inclination to buy, cigarettes.

However, a four-country survey conducted by Dr David Hammond for peer-reviewed journal Tobacco Control determined that smokers who live in countries which have government-mandated health warnings are far more likely to have knowledge of the negative effects of tobacco consumption.

EU - planning a new study aimed at developing better graphic images..

It is estimated that close to 7,000 people die each year in Ireland from smoking-related illnesses, and tobacco has been identified by the WHO as the leading cause of death and disability in the world.

According to the Department of Health commissioned Survey of Lifestyles, Attitude and Nutrition (Slán), rates of smoking among the Irish populace have declined over the period 1998-2007 from 33 per cent to 29 per cent.

Ireland - As of July 1, 2009 no advertising or display of tobacco products will be permitted in retail outlets..

Reference: Graphics smoke out the habit.., IrishTimes.com, 6/9/2009.

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