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Graphic tobacco warning labels – an improper solution?

Authors Salvi JD

Received 29 May 2014

Accepted for publication 30 May 2014

Published 12 July 2014 Volume 2014:5 Pages 33—34

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/LCTT.S68563

Checked for plagiarism Yes



Joshua D Salvi

Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA


In June 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (HR 1256). This legislation required that all tobacco products and advertising must have a graphic warning covering 50 percent of the front and back of the package. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a number of graphic designs, and the final designs were submitted in June, 2011. The proposed designs include grotesque imagery in an attempt to dissuade smoking in the USA. However, these graphic labels were invalidated in court due to violation of freedom-of-speech rights. Independent from that point, these labels, if appealed, would do more harm than good from a public health perspective. According to the Centers for Disease Control, smoking accounts for approximately 443,000 deaths per year in the USA, including deaths from lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and numerous other morbidities. It is thus apparent that smoking is a public health concern, and these new warning labels hope to address the concern by deterring such behavior. However, although such graphic labels may be more effective than the previous Surgeon General’s warning (a text-only message on the side of the package), they can be greatly improved through what is defined as a gains-based message as opposed to the proposed loss-based message. In doing so, the labels would not only educate the public on the dangers of smoking, but they would effectively encourage smoking prevention and cessation behavior. Indeed, the currently proposed labels may do more harm than good. To make this argument, three assumptions are necessary. First, as hinted above, smoking is a public health concern. Second, tobacco warning labels are designed to result in human behaviors of smoking cessation and prevention. Finally, human behavior is, in some circumstances, predictable.

This is not to say that the labels proposed by the FDA or those currently being used around the world are completely ineffective. In fact, the graphic labels may be more effective than the small text-only Surgeon General’s warning. However, there is a wide margin for improvement. The proposed labels appear to be far too grotesque. Though admittedly fear-inducing, this negative emotion will most likely lead to reactance behavior. Expect sales of slip covers to increase, along with the possibility of some smokers increasing their smoking behavior. Smoking rates may continue to decline, but the rate of this decline may not yet be optimal. Data from other countries, along with numerous experimental studies, have demonstrated that confounding factors can contribute to the decline in these countries, and grotesque imagery can result in maladaptive behavior. A truly effective label would be designed with a positive, gain-framed message. It would be designed to motivate behavioral change and encourage self-efficacy. Data from others who were able to quit can enhance subjective norms. Imagery depicting the benefits of quitting or those who were able to quit can further eliminate reactance. All of this would then be coupled with resources on quitting, such as phone numbers, web sites, and support groups. This is a war that cannot be fought with fire. As demonstrated every time a cigarette is lit, fire is only good for lighting up.

Disclosure

The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.

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