Shock pictures on cigarette packs effectively deter young people from smoking

Effect of Ekelfotos: Warning pictures keep teens from smoking

In recent years, a decline in cigarette consumption of young people in Germany has been reported. Apparently, the warning images, which must be printed on cigarette packs since 2016, also help to keep more teenagers away from the smoldering sticks.

smoking is dangerous for your health

Smoking is one of the biggest health hazards that every human being can influence themselves. For some years now, cigarette packets containing warnings and photos have also to be warned against the health risks of tobacco consumption. But how successful are the shock pictures? A study by American scientists came to the conclusion that such warning images do not stop smoking. For young people in Germany that's not true. Because they are quenched by a report of the DAK-health through the photos of cigarette consumption.

According to a recent study, shock pictures on cigarette packs in German adolescents reinforce negative attitudes towards smoking. (Image: Jiri Hera / fotolia.com)

Shock pictures deter young people

Carcinoma, smoking lung, foot amputation: Such shocks on cigarette packs act. Negative attitudes to smoking are exacerbated by the Ekelfotos especially in young non-smokers.

This shows a recent study by the health insurance DAK-health. As part of the DAK prevention radar, over 400 school classes and a total of around 7,000 students in grades five to ten took part.

The study was carried out by the Kiel Institute for Therapy and Health Research (IFT-Nord).

"Our study shows that the warnings generate a considerable amount of negative emotions, with young people who have never smoked more emotionally than smokers," explains Andreas Storm, CEO of DAK-Gesundheit.

"The photos can have a preventive effect, as they increase negative attitudes of young people to cigarette smoking."

Nationwide, 44 schools participated in the study. The results are clear: young people, in particular, who have never smoked, reacted significantly more emotionally than their smoking classmates across all warnings.

In particular, the warning with lung cancer caused disgust and anxiety in the teenagers.

Every seventh person dies as a result of smoking

Although fewer people smoke today than a few years ago. But recent studies have shown: one in four in Germany takes the cigarette. About every seventh death is still due to the consequences of smoking.

E-cigarettes or hookahs today often replace the conventional cigarette - and apparently seem appealing to many young people.

The shock pictures on cigarette packs show possible health problems caused by smoking, such as rotten teeth, cancerous ulcers or smoking.

Since the introduction of the EU Tobacco Directive in May 2016, a large part of the packaging area in Germany must also be reserved for the images and suitable texts.

In many countries, however, the warnings were already established earlier. Great Britain goes one step further. There, cigarettes have to be packaged uniformly dark; Brand logos are not allowed. (Ad)