Cancer pictorials will deter cigarette smoking - NATA

by Ananda Kannangara

The National Alcohol and Tobacco Authority (NATA) said yesterday that printing cancer related pictorials on cigarette packets along with written warnings on smoking could deter youth from smoking. According to a spokesman for NATA nearly 22,000 Sri Lankans mainly those underaged die annually from tobacco related products. NATA Chairman Prof. Carlo fonseka told the Sunday Observer that the need to print cancer related pictorial warnings on cigarette packets has already been brought to the notice of Health Ministry and it was the duty of officials to implement it as soon as possible considering it a national need.

He also focused attention on the Government’s decision to increase the price of cigarettes last month and said that such a move would further strengthen the Authority’s endeavour of discouraging people, especially youngsters from smoking. He said printing pictorial warnings on cigarette packets is common in several foreign countries including Malaysia, Canada, India and even some European countries.

Quoting international statistics, Prof. Fonseka said 25 percent smokers in Jordan who had seen four pictorials on cigarette packets displayed at sales points quit smokers. A recent study titled, `Effect of Pictorial Warnings in Jordan’ was conducted at the King Hussein Cancer Centre as part of the Kingdom’s commitment to the `Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).