煙草在線據(jù)加拿大新聞專線報道編譯 煙盒上已經(jīng)印制了十余載的健康警語將很快成為歷史。
包裝上印有新的、面積更大的健康警語的卷煙——由加拿大衛(wèi)生部去年9月宣布使用——今年春天逐步進入商店。截至6月19日,零售商只能出售新健康警語包裝的卷煙和小雪茄。
新的警語圖片更為明顯,覆蓋了整個包裝正面和背面75%的面積,而以前僅占50%。
一些圖片警語內(nèi)容包括生命和健康受到吸煙負(fù)面影響的加拿大同胞,如阿爾伯達省的Barb Tarbox。
Tarbox女士2003年因多年吸煙引起的肺癌去世,她讓攝影師記錄下了她生命的最后幾天。這些震撼心靈的照片中,有兩個被選定為新的健康圖片警語。“看看卷煙的摧毀力,”一條警語這樣寫道。“記住這張臉,吸煙殺了我。”
新警語還包括與吸煙相關(guān)的最近疾病信息,包裝內(nèi)還有關(guān)于戒煙益處的提示。
每個健康警語還包括一個免費的戒煙熱線電話號碼和網(wǎng)頁地址,為吸煙者提供免費的戒煙咨詢和其他戒煙資源,這樣的信息是第一次作為加拿大的煙草產(chǎn)品健康警語使用。
“我很高興,這些警示標(biāo)簽將為數(shù)百萬煙民提供全新的、與時俱進的健康警示和信息。”衛(wèi)生部長利昂納·阿盧卡克(Leona Aglukkaq)表示,“這一舉措將有助于提高煙民對煙草使用的危害和戒煙對健康的好處的認(rèn)識。”
2000年,加拿大是世界上第一個要求卷煙包裝上使用圖片警語的國家。在降低煙草使用及吸煙率方面,這些警語已經(jīng)開始起效,2000年15歲及以上的煙民吸煙率為24%,2010年,下降至17%。
Canada: Deadline approaches for new health warnings on cigarette packs
The health warnings that smokers have seen on their cigarette packs for more than a decade will soon be history.
New, larger health warning messages—announced by Health Canada last September—have been phased into stores throughout the spring. As of June 19, retailers may only sell cigarettes and little cigars in packaging that displays the new health warnings.
The warning labels are more noticeable, covering 75 per cent of the front and back of packages, up from 50 per cent previously.
Some include messages from fellow Canadians whose lives and health have been negatively affected by tobacco use, such as Barb Tarbox of Alberta.
Ms. Tarbox, who died in 2003 from lung cancer caused by years of smoking, allowed a photographer to document the final days of her life. Two of these powerful photos were selected for the new health warnings. "Look at the power of the cigarette," one message reads. "Remember this face and that smoking killed me."
There are also new warnings about diseases recently linked to smoking and information, on the inside of packs, about the benefits of quitting.
Each health warning also includes a toll-free quitline number and web address to connect users to free counselling and other quit smoking resources—a first for tobacco health warnings in Canada.
"I am pleased that these labels will put new, updated health warnings and information into the hands of millions of smokers," said Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. "This initiative will help to increase awareness of the health hazards associated with tobacco use and the benefits of quitting."
Canada was the first country in the world to require graphic health warnings on tobacco packages, in 2000. Those warnings have played a role in reducing tobacco use, as well as smoking rates - which declined from 24 per cent of the population aged 15 and over in 2000 to an all-time low of 17 per cent in 2010.