HC Deb 12 February 1981 vol 998 cc411-2W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to how many health warnings are used on cigarette packets in Sweden; what they are; what evidence there is that they reduce the numbers of smokers; and what consideration he has given to the introduction of the same type of warning in the United Kingdom.

Sir George Young

I understand that 16 different health warnings are used on cigarette packets in Sweden. As translated by the Swedish National Smoking and Health Association, these are:—

  1. 1. The person who stops smoking will soon be more fit.
  2. 2. Non-smokers have longer average life than smokers.
  3. 3. Smokers have more sickness than non-smokers.
  4. 4. The more you smoke the greater health risks will there be.
  5. 5. Smoking during pregnancy may harm the child.
  6. 6. You who have been smoking for a long time! Stopping smoking is useful—the risk for disease will decrease and your fitness will improve.
  7. 7. Asbestos is especially dangerous to smokers. If you work
  8. 8. in an environment with such pollution you should stop smoking.
  9. 9. Smoker's cough in the morning? Smoker's cough is a sign of early ill-health. The cough will cease if you stop smoking.
  10. 10. If you still must smoke avoid inhaling and leave long butts and you will absorb less of dangerous substances.
  11. 11. You who have been smoking for a long time! It has been proved that those who stop smoking will decrease the health risks. damages the lungs! It begins with a smoker's cough and it may end up with lung cancer or other lung diseases.
  12. 12. Smoking and air pollution is a bad combination. Smokers are more sensitive to air pollution.
  13. 13. Which cigarettes are most dangerous? Those yielding most carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine. But it also depends how you smoke.
  14. 14. The person who stops smoking increases his chances of remaining healthy.
  15. 15. You who are young! The earlier you begin smoking the more seriously your health will be affected.
  16. 16. Diseases of the heart and arteries. Smokers run an increased risk of heart attacks and certain diseases of the arteries.

These warnings first appeared in 1977. According to the Swedish National Smoking and Health Association, the percentage of Swedish men who smoke had been falling since 1969 and the percentage of women who smoke had been more or less static over the same period. A survey carried out for the association suggested that, while the long-term effects are not clear, the introduction of the warnings led to a number of people stopping smoking.

The new voluntary agreement between the Government and the tobacco industry provides for a total of five different health warnings to appear on cigarette packets and advertisements. This agreement expires on 31 July 1982 and I shall bear the Swedish experience in mind, together with other research findings, when considering what forms the health warning should take after that date.