NZers' health not as important as Australians’
28 February 2006
New Zealanders’ health not as important as Australians’.
Australia has introduced new graphic
health warnings on their cigarette packets that will help
reduce smoking rates in Australia and save lives.
From
tomorrow, (1 March 2006) all tobacco products imported and
manufactured for retail in Australia are to be printed with
the new graphic health warning labels. These new warnings
provide smokers with information on an expanded range of
health effects.
ASH New Zealand is outraged that New
Zealanders are not benefiting from the same health warnings.
Australian smokers will not only be better informed about
the health hazards of smoking but also be more motivated to
try and quit.
ASH NZ believes that Kiwis have the right
to be as equally informed as their Aussie
counterparts.
“The Ministry of Health held consultations for improved health warnings in October 2004 and now almost 18 months on, we still have no action.” says Becky Freeman, Director, ASH NZ. Several health groups including ASH, the Smokefree Coalition and the New Zealand Drug Foundation called for the implementation of graphic health warnings on all tobacco products in October of 2004.
ASH NZ emphasises that clear and distinct pictorial warnings are a vital public health measure aimed to ensure that New Zealanders enjoy smoke-free healthy lives.
“People might initially feel fear and disgust but research done in Canada has found that 47.4 percent of adult smokers who had seen and read Canadian pictorial warnings had attempted to quit smoking or had reduced their cigarette consumption,” says Ms Freeman.
Research undertaken by BRC Marketing and Social Research in New Zealand has shown that the elements that had the most impact were clear, bright pictures and bold, simple warning messages supported by informative (yet brief) additional text.
“We believe that the Australian Ministry of Health has made a bold move in order to protect the health of Australians and we insist that the Ministry of Health in New Zealand follow suit,” says Ms Freeman.
ENDS