Stomach-churning’ images for smoking campaign

HORRIFIC images will be beamed into Irish homes as part of a 2 million anti-smoking advertising campaign.

Stomach-churning clips from Australian-made commercials, showing the damage to the heart and brain from smoking, will be used in prime time viewing slots on RTÉ, TV3 and Sky.

A PR advisor working on the campaign conceded: “Some of the clips could upset people. You would certainly look away.”

Health Minister Micheál Martin said: “The campaign, while bringing home the stark realities of smoking in a memorable, effective and perhaps disturbing way, does offer support to smokers to quit.”

The National Smoking Cessation campaign includes a lo-call phone smokers’ quit-line service.

A national road show, featuring medical personnel and health board officials, is also being planned to coincide with the campaign.

According to Mr Martin, the prevalence of smoking in Ireland fell by 4% in the last four years. However, he warned: “There is no room for complacency on the health damage from smoking and the burden it places on individuals and the health services.”

The hard-hitting and wide-ranging smoking cessation campaign, Every Cigarette is Doing You Damage, is the most comprehensive ever undertaken by the department’s Health Promotion Unit.

Despite the minister’s decision to introduce a planned smoking ban in pubs and restaurants from January 26, the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said yesterday it would wholeheartedly support the Government’s plans for a national roadshow.

VFI executive member, Con Dennehy, said: “We are not pro-smoking, we are pro-choice and would fully support any national campaigns to help people quit smoking.” With the VFI’s national executive due to meet at the end of November to discuss plans to oppose the ban, Mr Dennehy said the withholding of VAT payments would not be considered.

However, he accused the Taoiseach of being “out of touch” with the public. Referring to Mr Ahern’s attack on the hospitality industry when he claimed the smoking ban would bring “decent people” back into bars, Mr Dennehy said: “A recent survey showed 85% of the public visited bars.

Is the Taoiseach suggesting that 85% of the adult population is indecent?