With reference to Sheetal Agarwal's article, "Bigger warnings may not hurt cigarettes a lot" (April 7), graphic health warnings using a mix of pictures and words are part and parcel of the policy on cigarette marketing for several countries. In India, the 40 per cent warning on one side of a cigarette pack proved ineffective, as vendors displayed the other side so that buyers would not see the warning. Cigarette manufacturers have vested interests and those are protected with simple modifications to fool the public.
A bigger warning on a cigarette pack will likely be a deterrent for a buyer. But how does one resolve the issue when a person buys only one or two cigarettes and the pack is opened in front of him or her by the seller? According to the "Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report, 2014", India has slipped to 136th position on the list of 198 countries that warn citizens about the hazards of smoking through graphic pictures on cigarette packages. Pressure from various lobbies must be resisted and the new regulations on expanded pictorial warnings implemented without delay.
Vinod C Dixit Ahmedabad
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