Drastic Measures?

FDA reveals bigger, graphic warning labels for cigarette packages

I am appalled by this piece of news. I can not believe that the FDA is being allowed to put such awful things on something so simple as a cigarette pack. I understand that their motive and intention is to get people to quit but then why aren't they putting other graphic images elsewhere? Why aren't there pictures of the consequences of drinking posted on cans and bottles, or even just the cases? I'm not saying I would support that either but it seems very unfair to single out smokers.

"'President Obama is committed to protecting our nation's children and the American people from the dangers of tobacco use. These labels are frank, honest and powerful depictions of the health risks of smoking and they will help," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in an FDA statement. 'These labels will encourage smokers to quit and prevent children from smoking. President Obama wants to make tobacco-related death and disease part of the nation's past, and not our future.'" I do not agree with any portion of this statement. Why isn't Obama committed to stopping drunk driving or helping alcoholics quit? Their addiction is just as serious, if not more so, as a smokers. There might be no such thing as "second-hand drinking" but growing up with an alcoholic parent, or two, is just as harmful as living with a smoker. Especially if Alcoholism runs in the family. I also don't believe that the labels will encourage smokers to quit, nor will it prevent children from smoking. First of all no one wants to see these images and I've heard of several studies that concluded that showing people drastic images made no difference than just telling them what the affects are. Second, kids are going to smoke no matter what. There are always going to be people who make smoking look cool whether its a neighbor, a peer, a parent, or whomever. Because of this there are always going to be kids who want to try it. My feeling is that it doesn't matter if the entire pack of cigarettes is covered in images and warnings, a 12 year old, or a 16 year old is still going to try it if their curious.

"Thomas Glynn, director of cancer science and trends for the the American Cancer Society, said the old labels have been virtually invisible because they're small and have been around for so long. He said people have become immune and don't really "see" them anymore, but the new labels will be hard to ignore and will help focus attention on the problem." I'm curious, again, why nothing is being implemented toward the cases, bottles, and kegs of alcohol that are available. I'm 90% sure that they all have some sort of warning and I guarantee its just as non-noticeable as the labeling on cigarette packs.

Glynn also says that, "The labels are not just for smokers, the labels are for anyone interested in public health." I don't want to see these labels. I have been a non-smoker for approximately the last 3 years and these pictures are disturbing to me. I don't want to see them. Even if all my friends manage to quit and all of them are non-smokers I don't want to see them when I walk into a 7-Eleven or conveniencestore. I shouldn't have to.

R.J. Reynolds is a maker of many best-selling brands of cigarettes and says that the new requirements violate the First and Fifth Amendments. He also states that "the government is not warning consumers about smoking risks -- it is telling consumers, 'Don't buy or use this product.'" Which I must agree with. What happened to a the Government allowing the PEOPLE to make their own decisions? Shouldn't they in a sense be thanking smokers for fueling the economy?

Apparently 39 other countries have picture warnings on their cigarette packs. I'm not really against having picture warnings, but the sheer size of them is very disturbing. As Philip Morris' letter said, "the sheer size of the warnings violates the First Amendment."

I feel like in many other areas our rights are violated but this is the most recent occurrence and it disgusts me. I have no problem with campaigns for tobacco users to quit but they need to be done tastefully. My concern is that smokers are going to be so disgusted and pissed off by these new requirements that its not going to deter them from quiting at all. Instead they'll buy stylish ways to store their cigarettes or just plain tune them out. That is not going to be successful at all.