Put pictorial warnings on cigarettes now, says cancer group

THE Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has called on the Government to expedite the introduction of pictorial warnings on cigarette packets to drive home the message that smoking is harmful to health.

The call comes at a time when Health Minister Mary Harney has announced her intention to introduce further restrictions on the sale of cigarettes including:

* A ban on all in-store/point-of-sale advertising of tobacco products.

* A ban on the display of tobacco products in shops.

* The introduction of a closed container/dispenser provision in shops selling cigarettes.

* Tighter controls on the location and operation of tobacco vending machines.

* The introduction of a retail register containing data on all outlets selling tobacco products.

Welcoming Ms Harney’s intention to ban in-store advertising of tobacco products ICS chief executive, John McCormack, said it was extremely important in deterring young people from taking up the habit.

“The ban on advertising is really important among young people, particularly young women, who are especially susceptible to advertising, something the tobacco industry has always been very aware of,” Mr McCormack said.

He said the ICS would like to see the introduction of pictorial warnings on cigarette packs this year — approved by the EU two years ago — rather than 2008, when the Government has given a commitment to do so. A government spokesperson said the introduction of pictorial warnings was “under consideration”.

Ms Harney has invited submissions from retailers, distributors and manufacturers in relation to the timescale for the commencement of the new Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 provisions and to this effect, notices were placed in yesterday’s national newspapers.

The provisions are the latest regulations aimed at reducing the number of smokers in Ireland. A ban on the sale of 10-packs of cigarettes came into force at the end of May. This followed the 2004 workplace smoking ban.

According to the Office of Tobacco Control, the level of compliance with the ban stood at 95% last year, with 2% of restaurants and 5% of hotels non-compliant with the ban.