Efficacy of Tobacco Packaging Health Warning Labels Enlightening Smokers about the Risk of Smoking

Abstract

Smoking is a psychosomatic addiction that is injurious to health and cause serious addiction. According to WHO, globally one of the prominent causes of death & disability is cigarette smoking, affecting all parts of body. Five million deaths occur each year. Aim of the study is to evaluate warning labels of cigarette effectiveness in advising smokers of smoking health risks, thus motivating them to quit smoking. An evaluative survey was conducted in the Bahawalpur community by using a self-administered questionnaire as a tool to elicit data. When percentage was compared among four groups, the highest scoring was of 16-25 year age group. Next to them was the age group 25-45 & least percentage was of 45-60 age groups. Today, the labels are trivial & simply overwhelmed by the packing schemes on cigarette boxes. Additionally, smokers turn habitual zed to the elegance of brands, to the point that labels go unnoticed. Due to the lack of effectiveness of warning labels, there is a need to adopt Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) guidelines in Pakistan. There is a need to conduct anti-smoking efforts; otherwise, the annual death toll will double if the current consumption trend continues.