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Tobacco manufacturers must, since Tuesday, ensure that the filter of each “king size” (large format) cigarette has a warning printed directly on it. Dissuasive measure or sword in the water?
Canada this week became the first country in the world to require warnings such as “Cigarettes damage your organs” or “Cigarettes cause cancer” to appear on every full-size cigarette.
“This is a world precedent and it will reduce smoking. It targets smokers with every cigarette, every puff, every smoke break in every community,” said Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society.
Photo provided by Rob Cunningham
Tobacco is the leading cause of illness and death in Quebec, killing 13,000 people each year.
Mr. Cunningham is convinced that the new measures will create beneficial debates and that smokers will perhaps talk to each other about the messages written on their cigarettes.
“We want smokers to discuss the harmful effects of cigarettes,” he said.
One regulation, several dates
The choice of the “king size” format is not trivial. This is the largest category, representing approximately 70% of the market in Canada. Retailers have three more months, until July 31, to ensure that all cigarettes in their stores comply with the new regulations.
Manufacturers have until January 31, 2025 to apply this measure for regular cigarettes. Retailers have three more months to comply, by April 30, 2025 at the latest.
Tobacco manufacturers opposed this new regulation, but Rob Cunningham did not budge.
“There are approximately 25 studies in Canada and internationally that have examined the effects of requiring health warnings on cigarettes. The conclusion is that it is an effective measure,” he stressed.
A statement that is not unanimous
“I don’t think anyone smokes a cigarette and thinks it’s safe (safe). In my head, it doesn’t change anything. There are already photos of dead people on the packages. I don’t think it changes much,” said Emerye Calvez.
An opinion shared by Matteo Visentin. “I admit that if I end up having a cigarette, I think that the message, I don’t read it. They pass it to me, I light the cigarette, I smoke it.”
Huynh Carollin, cashier and student at Collège de Maisonneuve, also doesn’t think she would pay attention to the message if she were a smoker.
“The images on the box are much scarier than the messages on the cigarette. I don’t think it would deter me from anything.”
Vaping, the next target?
Some believe that warnings on cigarettes are likely to discourage adolescents by making cigarettes less attractive.
Mélanie Hamel, a civil servant interviewed on the subject, believes that prevention will not do any harm, but thinks that we must also tackle another phenomenon.
“From what I know, they prefer the vape and they put all kinds of substances in it.”
Rob Cunningham, policy specialist at the Canadian Cancer Society, is aware that vaping among adolescents in Quebec needs to be better controlled.
“Yes, we have a lot of teenagers who vape. Health Canada has the regulatory authority to have warnings directly on electronic cigarettes. It’s not done yet. Health Canada is not ready to do it, but it could be done in the future,” he explained.
