The European Commission is being asked to introduce the same types of graphic health warnings used on cigarette packages in Canada and Brazil. Cancer Research UK and 6 other research groups say the ads make smoking “less stylish.” A survey of Canadian smokers indicates the warnings work; 43% of respondents said the warnings raised their concern about the health effects of smoking and 44% said they are now more motivated to quit (CMAJ 2002;166[1]:1453). The European Parliament recently voted to increase the size of warnings to between 30% and 40% of cigarette package surfaces and banned the use of terms such as “mild” and “light.” — CMAJ
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