Australia's End To Cigarette Packaging

Not sure if this has hit the headlines in other countries yet, but in a world first, Australia has changed all cigarette packaging to the above.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion...h-court-decision/story-e6frfhqo-1226451242470

An end to the huff and puff in cigarette packaging after High Court decisionBIG tobacco sucked in its corporate breath yesterday when the High Court threw out its challenge to Australia's plain-packaging tobacco laws. But it is a decision likely to keep people living far longer.









The stark images of diseased lips and lungs on drab-coloured cigarette packs may deter some committed smokers. The greater hope is they will discourage a new generation of smokers.
Big tobacco, still reaping billions of dollars in profits, must think it will. Their rejected arguments about their constitutional rights are only a smokescreen to retain revenue from a product that kills.
Arguments about smokers' choice fall away when the habit is shown to induce cancer in others through passive smoking. That is why Australian governments have outlawed smoking in restaurants and bars and restaurants.
Victoria may soon introduce legislation banning people from smoking within four metres of entrances to public buildings. Bizarre arguments are put forward by the smoking lobby to justify a national health risk and one estimated to cost the nation more than $30 billion annually.
Organisations with questionable agendas talk of health fears being overstated, that smokers are people more likely to be heavy drinkers and, incredibly, less likely to wear seat belts in cars.
There is also the weird belief that smokers cost the community less in health care because they don't live as long as non-smokers.
Whatever it takes to stop governments diminishing their product in the market place, regardless of the risk, is the unstated aim of cigarette manufacturers.
Part of the threat to continue litigation to protect their businesses is massive compensation for their financial losses.
The Australian Government is being sued for what Philip Morris Ltd claims are multiple breaches of international trade and investment treaties and the company is today trawling through the fine print of the High Court decision.
There is no valid argument to deny the health risks of smoking and their latest legal challenge has failed. Whatever comes next, there is the moral argument the tobacco companies refuse to acknowledge. Theirs is a ruthless corporate culture that puts profits ahead of people.

 

Stick it to the smoking types! I think they should have included photos of the Blue Waffle too. And maybe a bunyip eating out Tony Abbott.

 

not sure about the waffles or bunyip, but the decision has certainly got the attention of other countries.

http://www.news.com.au/world/overse...ld-by-high-court/story-fndir2ev-1226451177308


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Health Minister Nicola Roxon has been victorious in her fight for plain tobacco packaging laws. Source: The Courier-Mail



OTHER nations are set to follow Australia's lead after the High Court endorsed plain-packaging laws for tobacco.

New Zealand and Britain are likely to introduce similar legislation after the Australian High Court ruling, meaning that all cigarettes and tobacco products in Australia must be sold in olive-brown packs from December.
New Zealand's Associate Minister of Health, Tariana Turia, said the decision gave the country security about moving forward with consultations on a similar policy.
"`We have been watching the developments in Australia with huge interest," she said.
"I think it is a global victory for those who have lost their lives to smoking, for their families and their communities.''
The New Zealand Cancer Society's Skye Kimura said the ruling was encouraging: "It is great to see the Australian government standing firm against the tobacco industry and standing up for the best public health interests of Australians.''

The UK Government has awaited the Australian High Court decision before pressing ahead with plain packaging of tobacco products.
Cancer Research UK tobacco control manager Robin Hewings told ABC that Health Minister Nicola Roxon has had an important influence on UK.
"We know Andrew Lansley, our health secretary here, says that talking to Nicola Roxon was one of the things that inspired him to have a consultation on plain packaging," she said.
"The kind of strength that the Australian Government is showing in response to the current tobacco industry legal action and bullying and so on, I think has also helped us as well."
However, tobacco companies said the decision should not have an impact in New Zealand and are stridently against similar action in the UK.
Imperial Tobacco New Zealand said: "The Australian High Court has ruled on the validity of this legislation, they did not rule on whether plain packaging is good policy.''
British American Tobacco New Zealand (BATNZ) said the decision should be "cold comfort'' to Ms Turia.
"Australia is alone in passing a plain packaging bill. Countries such as Canada have also looked at the measure and chosen not to implement it,'' BATNZ spokesman Nick Booth said.

 

Those are some ugly packs.

 

I wonder if it would be worse showing a naked mole rat getting sucked off by a bucktooth marauder.

 

I would probably look just to see. Lol

 

For some people, person in crocs would also do it.

 

Crocs. Lmao.

 

Just add a butt-plug and a pink bathrobe and you're good to go. No more cigarettes.

 

i think this is the right thing to do!

 

I had an idea to make people stop smoking cigarettes altogether and it involved removing all current cigarettes and replacing them with dick-shaped ones and I can (almost) guarantee you that they wouldn't like puffing a dick. Sales would dramatically go down.

 

Will pictures on packages deter smokers who are addicted to nicotine?

Most smokers are hardcore and I can't see it. All the tobacco education here from the settlement with the tobacco company and bans on smoking in public and people..........still smoke.

 

i think this is the way to go.

Millions die every year around the world because of tobacco, anything they can do to discourage people from smoking that shit, is right.
but
i don`t they should make it illegal

 

Make all of them phallic shape and you'll see a huge drop in sales.

 

Weve also banned smoking in a lot of places and constantly have ads about the damages of smoking. Our smoking figures are now dropping.

I think the new packaging will really work with the teens who may think about starting over adults or addicted adults

 

How old do you have to be to buy cigarettes there (and does it vary by state)?

They passed a law here Christmas time, making it illegal for anyone to smoke in a car if there's someone under 16 with them. I don't get the whole 'banning people from smoking X feet in front of the building' thing... if they're kept 10 feet away, then you still have to walk through the ring of smokers standing 10 feet away anyways.