Comments for China Puts Skulls on Cigarette Packs, Bypasses Toys For Now

China Puts Skulls on Cigarette Packs, Bypasses Toys For Now

2007-09-13T02:09:38Z

China's had such a bad safety record lately that it's a little surprising to find out their latest plans for health warnings on packs of cigarettes: skulls, blackened teeth, and diseased lungs, covering at least 30% of the pack's surface area. The move is an attempt to curb the growing market of smokers in the country, where the average age of people who start smoking is as low as 10 in some areas.

Youth expert Zhao Cuiping says the skull idea isn't so good if you're trying not to attract teens: "In analysis over the past decade on what young people like, they far prefer skulls and other scary images to cats or dogs." However, a CNN article from 2002 says the graphic warnings have been successful in Canada.

Just yesterday, we saw a teen girl with a pink rhinestone skull-and-crossbones on her bag, but to be fair, we have yet to see any bedazzled lung tumors. Maybe the next generation will take that up.

China cigarette packs to get skull health warnings [Reuters]

Comment from Robert Synnott on 2007-09-13

2007-09-13T20:09:10Z

This is pretty common nowadays. I don't think that there's much evidence they work.

Here in Ireland, packets just have text warnings; my favourite (normally found on brands targeted at women, I think) is "Smoking causes aging of the skin."

Comment from Blueskylaw on 2007-09-13

2007-09-13T19:37:41Z

How about just listing the lead content of the cigarettes?

Comment from Greeper on 2007-09-13

2007-09-13T16:58:29Z

And there will still be lawsuits by people claiming they were tricked and didnt know it was bad for them

Comment from Marce on 2007-09-13

2007-09-13T06:09:02Z

My favorite winter hat has cartoony skulls on the ear flaps. Real skulls, now...

Comment from moorie679 on 2007-09-12

2007-09-13T04:40:55Z

yeah retarded.....most people know smoking is bad for ya......I smoked for 5 years and quit 4 times....the truth ads nor the packaging ever stopped me. I doubt there was anyone in their living room sitting and watching TV that went......"oh snap dog....there is no such thing as a safe cigarette....just like bullets....better quits"

Comment from neuracnu on 2007-09-12

2007-09-13T03:50:16Z

Thailand has been doing this for a while now. Just do a Google image search for thai cigarettes to see the nastiness.

Comment from mopar_man on 2007-09-12

2007-09-13T03:45:52Z

Canadian cigarettes have pictures of blackened lungs, mouths with smoking affects and facts about smoking. As far as I know, none of my Canadian friends that smoke have stopped because of this packaging.

Comment from liquisoft on 2007-09-12

2007-09-13T02:51:47Z

"we have yet to see any bedazzled lung tumors. Maybe the next generation will take that up."

I'm already registering bedazzledlungtumors.com!

Comment from mikesfree on 2007-09-12

2007-09-13T02:51:33Z

Sounds like marketing to pirates to me.

Comment from thepounder on 2007-09-12

2007-09-13T02:47:29Z

I suppose any surprise here is just caused by the cultural differences between China and the US. I get their point of putting the skulls on stuff, much like we used to put the skull and crossbones on poisons. Whatever works, unless the kids all buy the Skull Deathbrand Cigarettes now...

On a side note, I must have that belt and belt buckle. Pimp My Pants.

Comment from mandarin on 2007-09-12

2007-09-13T02:46:23Z

Thats not going to work... Might end up buying them just for the heck of it...