Cant get over the government and their hypocrisy. You cannot legalize lifestyle or morals.Either the person cares or they dont. Believe me people dont start smoking for lack of education. I have never smoked a thing in my life but where is compassion. We all get sickness and diseases mostly caused by our lifestyles and/or envirnment. Do we deny healthcare to obese people who get a myriad of sickness. Of course not. This political correctness is getting out of hand. No one wants to pay for anyone but wait till you get sick from your personal lifestyle. Then you want compassion. No one puts up warnings on the potential dangers for sun tan oils, liquor, beer wine,, sports products etc. If smoking is really that bad (and I personally think it is) then outlaw it. Yeah right. That would kill the cash cow of taxes, profits, and sub industries as the medical profession, medicines to quit smoking, reasearch on cancer etc. Either make it all legal or all illegal. Stop with the cherry picking of poisens in our lives to make fat cats richer

Wow everyone sure has a lot to say. I am a smoker and I hate it and yes I have tried to quit and believe me its not easy. I can diet no problem but smokes not so much. I think I am an idiot for ever starting again, and I know its up to me to quit but some help would be good. And I don't expect the government to help unless they are using the huge tax dollars they get from every pack of smokes that is sold. I think the cigarette companies should cough up some cash and set up a good clinic/rehab for smokers. Its an addiction so why can't there be rehab. Or Smokers Anonymous, something better than other drugs to get you off the nicotine. I'd pay to go for sure, cause i'm sure it would be a hell of a lot cheaper for a week or two then the cost of smoking these days. I am allergic to all the drugs and patches to help you quit, so rehab for me would be awesome. Anyone ever heard of such a thing, I can't find anything out there. I hate being the one everyone shuns, and yes maybe I am weak and no one else is responsible but I have to tell you when you are addicted you don't care what the labels say. I think it should be illegal that would be the best step ever!!!!

Everyone I know who smokes is not affected by this new scare tactic crap on cigarette packages.No one cares..if they want to smoke , they will smoke..my hubby smokes and he didn't even notice the new packaging...money down the drain.Why is it the government wants everyone to quit, yet they don't mind grabbing up the taxes. I was a smoker and i quit in 2000, it was tough, really tough., I quit cold turkey .I am proud that I did, but not everyone wants to quit or gives a damn what anyone else thinks and you cannot make people quit just because you don't like it.These smokers know about cancer and other health problems that go along with smoking..THEY DON"T CARE..!!!

I have been smoking for a long time, it is a habit from high school. I know it's not good for me, telling me over and over that it is bad is pointless and very annoying. I always stop and look with astonishment at people who tell me it is unhealthy and say " What? Oh My God! you are joking right? I've never heard this before..." and then walk away. Constantly harping at people about it accomplishes nothing. I feel that singling out a specific group in the populace should be stopped, after all we don't constantly tell people who are 300 pounds to not eat at McDonalds, we don't walk into bar and climb all over people for drinking...

I have tried several times in my life to quit with varying levels of success, I wish I could stop permanently but always end up in the same place.

I think that people should worry about themselves and stop worrying about that which does not concern them, ie Bugger Off!!

The nanny state we are developing in this country is malicious, every body is in everyone else's business..,it has to stop.Luckily I am old enough that I won't have to experience in this hell as I won't be here.

My fav is that I have friends who don't smoke. never have. When I visit them over a weekend I always go outside to smoke, she suggested that I can go on the balcony but I go right out to the road. Recently they decided to visit ME and a started to light up a cigarette and she said " you're not going to smoke that here, are you? " and I told her " As a matter of fact, in my own house, Yes, I am going to smoke it here but if you like you can go out on MY balcony and Shut The F**K Up!! " She of course did not go out or leave the apartment, I guess she doesn't have the strength of her own convictions...

As for all you types that say " I don't want to pay for your stupidity ..." is that if your life is perfect in all and every way " Be ye the first to cast a stone? and I bet you are pretty boring as well, and believe me I have paid plenty of taxes in my lifetime so you can shut the f**k up as well !!!

To the powers that be : Everytime they up the ante with these "don't smoke" labels, ads or campaigns, i up the ante by smoking more out of frustration. I don't appreciate being made to feel like a moron that doesn't know the "risks" of smoking. I know the risks, thanks. I know they're bad for me, thanks. You want me to quit? MAKE THEM ILLEGAL. Put it to a vote, and i'll vote yes, absolutely, ban them. Just please for the love of God enough with the "Hey, wanna smoke? We'd love your tax dollars. But here's a cancer ridden tongue to go with that priveledge on your $10 pack of cigarette's. You know you shouldn't smoke eh? But hey, we'll still take your money." Frankly, i believe if i choose to spend MY hard earned money on the option to smoke, i shouldn't have to be made to feel like a filthy human being for doing so. Either make it illegal or stick your disgusting pictures up your ... and let me make my own choices. I won't blame anyone if i get cancer or a terminal illness. That was my choice. I don't want OHIP to pay for medical needs either if i do so. That's MY problem, MY choice. I paid for it, i'll deal with the consequences okay? Why don't you make a pack that's $2 more, with NO warning labels whatsoever, i'll pay the extra for THAT priveledge too and you can donate it to infinite cancer research that you'll NEVER find a cure for, because you'll stop getting those fat paycheques and donations and "charity" drives. No one MADE me smoke, I CHOSE TO. Get it through your thick heads, just because someone smokes, doesn't mean they are too stupid to know it's a risk. There isn't a single warning label on alcohol, how many people does THAT kill a year? How detrimental is alcohol to our society? I drink too, yeah, so what, it's MY choice because you MAKE it a choice. We indeed as a society are going the way of idiocracy and it makes me ashamed to be a human being that i need to be told i'm stupid, but you take my money anyway. Then you look down on me for it? Really? There is only ONE way to be "smoke-free", STOP SELLING THEM AT ALL!!!

The fact of the matter is quitting is hard..No one tells you to start but the fact of the matter is I do not want to quit..you non smokers complain and complain and say he smokers are hard on the health system, What about the obese people that stuff themselves at all you can eat buffets and the drug addicts and the alcoholics ..when did you get better than the smokers who still work and pay your taxes so you can enjoy your mortgaged to the hilt lives..Smarten up you are raising the spoiled brats that will in the long run will spoil this world,
Why don't you rally against the corporate greed and goverment who profit largely from these vices.Grow up it is not a perfect world and you can't will it to be. We are still free for the time being but you need to clean up your own problems first!

Shes an alien in ad.

As a regular smoker for the past 29-years ( I started smoking regularly at age 16; but smoked my first cigarette, and subsequent others since age 14); I can honestly tell you; that the new warnings have absolutely no effect on me. Using these warnings (or children) on cigerette packs do absolutely-nothing to entice me to stop smoking. The only way that would allow me to quit; is if smokes tasted horrible to me. So far, there isn't anything on the market that achieves this. I am currently trying to quit smoking using Champix (which supposedly tricks the brain into making cigarettes taste-bad); but so far (after 2-weeks of medication); smokes still taste-good and fullfil my needs and desires. I can attest to the fact, that sordid pictures have absolutely no value in helping me quit this powerful addiction. Next, please.

As Canadians, we receive socialised health care that is paid from our tax dollars. I strongly believe that smokers should NOT be entiltled to this care; smokers should have to pay for their health care. Smokers are costing the Canadian health care system millions of dollars a year -- more than half the patients in cardiac wings of hospitals are smokers. It is very frustrating that in the 21st century, people are still stupid enough to smoke; however, I do not want to pay for their stupidity. Thank you for not smoking.

They should either take the warning labels off of cigarette packs entirely or they should start putting pictures of liver failure, a person choking to death on their own vomit while sleeping, and a bent bottle to symbolise a (temporary or permanent) erectile dysfunction on alcoholic drinks. I would personally vote in favour of the former, but the government rarely ever agrees with my logic.

your right. who would want to see a child smoking?

AFTER OPEN HEART SURGERY ...CABG...X 3...I COUGHED UP BLOOD CLOTS FOR A WEEK ALL FROM SMOKING 40 yrs + SOO I HAD TO QUIT OR DIEEEEE!
COLD TURKEY...PUT OUT LAST CIG WHEN PARAMEDICS TOOK ME OFF TTC STREETCAR IN 2005!
BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD IM STILL ALIVE BREATHING BETTER NO HACKING PUKING ETC!
SO F___K THE CIGS LOL!

The government is wasting their time and my money on this smoking issue. If your stupid enough to smoke knowing full well what it will do to you then die and decrease the surface population. Who really gives a rats ass? The only issue I have is there should be a blood test performed when your admitted to the hospital and if there is nicotine found you should be billed personally not covered by government funding.

Good ad. I say keep doing all it takes to prevent others to start this disgusting habit and for others to finally get it in their head what a stupid habit they continue to have. How can so many people be so nieve or just plain lazy about whether to quit or not. No more excuses already. Ads like this are good for smokers to continue to soul search about why they do this, others that don't truly bother just proof how weak they are. Irony is they are the opposite of "cool" . Any person can make a mistake and start, the ones that don't bother to change this habit should be the ones that we should all have no time for.

Brilliant!

everyone that is saying the government should supply patches for free and whatever. Why should my tax money go to your problems when that money can go to much more important things.

Several comments said that the government needs the tax money from the sale of cigarettes. If you take time to do the research and the math, it is obvious that the tax revenue does not cover the cost to the health system of all the illness that is caused by smoking tobacco. And there are many smoking-related illnesses besides cancer. Add to that the costs incurred by employers who have to pay replacement workers when smokers have to take sick days for smoking-related illnesses and it begins to make sense for governments to ban the use and sale of tobacco.

I think this is a good project. It honestly is hard to quit, when smoking is so addictive and is such a strong stimulant.

Carlo, have you ever seen how much it costs to buy a 'cessation product' its cheaper to buy smokes in some cases.

It is hard to stop smoking, in all reality it is no more harmful than alcohol abuse, and distracted driving. And while many people are crying out for help many others just sit back an tell them things like suck it up princess/ buttercup which is by no means helpful. As a smoker I have attempted to quit and well have failed, I wish I had a better support group and less work/home stresses that place the drive to want to smoke.

We need to all be team players in the effort to quit...

I have my daughter's to thank for me not smoking. They got after me until I quit.
Some people are quite irritated when told to quit, I wouldn't jeopardize a child , by putting their picture on a cigarette package.

I think the Thai campaign is brilliant. How can we convince out own authorities to try the same thing?

@Rosie. Are you serious about your question: "Why aren't they trying to make a cigarette that are not addictive and no chemicals instead."? The answer is because it wouldn't be a cigarette. Smoking by definition means to inhale combustion products. What combustion products would you consider safe? Would you suck on your chimney? Oh, I guess hydrogen would be safe! It's combustion product is water. I made hydrogen once in my basement. It made one hell of an explosion when I ignited it. Imagine what that would do to your lungs, but hey, no dangerous additive chemical byproducts! Oh wait, water is additive! I am thristy as hell right now and craving it soooooo badly.

I think if the government wanted to actually help peo0ple quit smoking (which includes me), they should make products like the NicoDerm patch available for free. It would probably cost the same as this ineffective advertising they are concidering. People don't quit from looking at images because smoking becomes a physical dependency and is 10 times harder to quit than cocaine. If the patch was free I know I would at least try to quit smoking, and I would probably succeed!

P.S. To none smokers, telling me I should quit just makes me want to light up in front of you and blow it in your face. So i should quit smoking, and you should quit being annoying and in my business!

Peace and Love

I was a smoker for 20 years. I stopped smoking 15 years ago and there isn't a day that goes by when I think - gee - a cigarette would sure be great about now. . It's a tough addicition to kick.

I knew about the dangers of smoking before I started. There were and have been laws and bylaws and regulations and smoking zones and cost increases to discourage folks and there has been very little impact because smokers want to smoke.

SO..

If the governement is TRULY serious about our health, then ban smoking. Stop screwing around with pictures and slogans.. Ban it - make it illegal to buy or to import.

interesting to hear from imperial tobacco execs, who know all too well that cigarettes kill! The governments know this as well, and as knowing participants in this killer, they too are liable in yours or anybody else's lawsuit! So Sue 'em!

My husband & myself are both smokers. We have quit 3 -4 times over the years, but something always comes along to bring it back. We don't like it, felt better without it and will kick it eventually. What angers both of us is the fact that the gov't profits big time from it, is constantly creating an image of WANTING us to quit, yet offers nothing to help. Several illegal street drugs are destroying more lives than cigarettes , yet those addicted are given the benefit of free aids and more by the government. I assume because the gov't is not making huge $'s from illegal drugs and eating the medical costs for these people, it makes sense to them to continue banning smoking everywhere yet continue selling it legally. Something wrong with this picture, not the pictures on the packages. They do nothing for most hard core addicted smokers.

It's not the gornment that does this to it's people. Government cares about it's people. It's an ignorant lobby group that has to display such graphics because they have no other way of being noticed. They are not the only 'group ' that displays that type of graphics. There are other groups like it. They want to 'control the world'. Let's just sit back and let them. (or join in if you please)

As a reasonably intelligent adult man, I find the warning labels on cigarette packages completely ineffective in deterring me since I have been smoking long before labelling began in 1989. It has also been my experience that the labelling hasn't prevented any teenagers from taking up the habit. I feel offended as a person by the labelling.

I feel that it is time for smart new ideas to promote non smoking. First of all, keep the labelling as is. Cigarette manufacturers have a right to promote their brand. Capitalism should not infringe upon a company's ability to sell their product. Treating the public like morons invokes rebellion rather than conformity. People are more likely to do the opposite of what you try to force them to do.

Secondly, I think that fines should be introduced and strictly enforced. There are traffic cameras at busy intersections, so why not try smoking cameras? Place them outside every entrance of public businesses, shopping centres and especially government or medical facilities. Set a price and fine anybody caught smoking in these areas.

Though there might be a logistical and initial start up cost to get the program up and running, the long term affect would quickly pay for itself in the long run. People will have the choice. Being hit with a fine would certainly get me to think twice about whether to go through the hassle of having a smoke if I either face a fine or face the trouble have having to walk a fair distance in the elements just for a puff. I truly believe it is as simple as that.

As for kids thinking about starting, let the fines be given to the parents. Any minor caught smoking and any business caught selling to minors should be fined at an even higher rate. I hid the fact that I smoked from my parents for years. Paying a fine for your child's smoking would eliminate secrecy. It's simply got to 'hurt' to be smoking.

Thank you for your time.

Excellent. Anything that reminds of what bad habits are. This technique could easily be used for ALL other BAD HABITS. DRINKING, DRUGS and YES, even to aid in the eating of bad food. Using children as a reminder You worry about me, what about you. Definitely applicable to all things. . . Habit or NOT.

I believe, that guilt is a better deterrent than scare tactics. They have not worked for our son. When children are involved, it is a different matter. Anyone who is thinking ratioally, would want to protect the health and wellbeing of children.
Should Canada go `smoke-free`--- It is a very big country, I don`t know if that would be possible.

I quit cold turkey in 1995 at the age of 53. I had started smoking when I was 14 years old with a few of my school friends in grade 8. Although I never smoked more than 10 to 20 cigarettes a week, sometimes more but mostly less, I still smoked. Over the years I would quit for a week or two now and again and even quit for 2 years in the 1980's but started again when going for a drink with a friend who had a pack of cigs and it started all over again. In 1995 I had a pupppy who had breathing problems and I decided I liked the dog more than the cigarettes and never smoked again. Its really mind over matter and after speaking with the nurse at my Doctors office about how people die from smoking I realized that I had better change my bad habit. (You sufficate and your lungs become mush and you just can't breath). So to the woman who only smokes socially and thinks that people don't know - you probably wreak of smoke! I don't think it matters what they put on the packages, it really won't make a difference to stop people from smoking. You have to want to. Maybe if they put the price of a pack up to, say, $50 some folks might kick the habit. Everyone will eventually quit or dye trying.

I find "cute kids" in ads annoying to begin with... In this instance, it makes me wonder "why must the kid be cute?" Would I be less likely to consider quitting or preventing a child from smoking if the kid was "ugly"?? How flawed. No stranger's picture, gross display of lungs/cancer, etc is going to make someone stop. It takes a personal scare or experience.

Well, as touching as it is, it won't work. It's simple: If you want to smoke, you will smoke. If you want to quit, you will quit. It is that easy. I smoked for 30+ years, 10+ cigarettes a day. The day I quit (1 1/2 years ago) was the day I finally stopped lying to myself about why I smoke & I actually quit for real.

Speaking of 'lying', note the video at about the 1:18 point. It shows a guy putting a cigarette back in his pack after reading the note (like the note influenced him to quit smoking), but if you watch carefully, you can see that the video is playing backwards for that shot. The guy was actually taking out a smoke after reading the note! I love China!!

Why don't you put disgusting images of the food processing system which are using mechanically separated meats on MacDonald's foods along with overweight people eating those burgers and chicken mcnuggets. Now there's a story to bring up or are they to big (corporate) for you to take on!!!!

"How about making it more cheaper to get the smoking cessation products instead of gouging people who would love to quit."

Dan

Dan, I can't believe what you said. Obviously, by quiting and not paying almost $10 a pack you could afford to pay for the necessary cessation products ?

I think it's a GREAT ad we should run something very similar in Canada. I liked that it did not include any actors with the exception of the children.

All habits are hard to break, thats why they are habits... I absolutely DETEST smokers who say.. " I can't quit, its a habit" Toughen up butter cup! People who do anything out of habit CAN quit, it just takes mental will power and determination. People quit smoking all the time, people who cant (or dont) dont because they simply dont want to. No more excuses.

I am a light smoker- I smoke between 1-5 a day, and more socially. I have been smoking since I was 26 (don't ask) and that was ten years ago.

Here is my reality on the cigarette package pictures- I got used to them and I don't even notice they are there. Sometimes I joke that will be me or my lungs some day.

These pictures do not have any effect whatsoever on my smoking habits. The new ones won't either.

I know the risks I am taking by smoking. I do not smoke in the house, near my children (who actually don't know I smoke)- and as a smoker I get annoyed at people who light up in a crowded area or line up. I step away and out of line.

I know of the multiple cancers etc that I am at risk of- and I have chosen to put myself at risk. The pictures aren't going to have an impact on things I already know.

The reality is if the Government wants to waste money on trying to convince people to quit it will be a waste of money. The other reality is that the Government makes far too much money off of the taxes they place on cigarettes to ever consider banning them, and it seems rather hypocritical to me.

The only thing or person who can make a smoker quit is the smoker. And quite frankly it gets old hearing people tell me I should quit. Yes I need to for my health- I know that- but at this point and time in my life I don't want to. These pictures will not change that.

Yes there is a typo in your article about Barb Tarbox. You stated that she was an anti-smoking activist. Smoking is what gave her the cancer; so I do not see the connection between her smoking and being an anti-smoking activist.

FANTASTIC campaign!! Should be done all over the world! Kudos to those kids and those who came up with it. Ads containing graphic cancer images are all well and good but no one thinks that it is possible that their organs look like that because they cant see them, however the thoughts of a child smoking is very graphic and real, it actually gets people thinking. Again, hats off to this campaign.

It was my six year old daughter who inspired me to stop smoking. That was 30 years ago. It works.

I've just quit smoking after 45 yrs. I finally decided that as I get older there enough other potential health risks and this seemed like the easiest preventative measures for 1 risk. The increasing in size gruesome phots on the pack did nothing for me. I hardly even noticed them. But as a grandmother, I think that photos of kids would have gotten me to quit sooner.

Nothing is going to make people quit smoking, except THEMSELVES ,when they are tired of it, tired of coughing, feeling unwell, having diseases, etc. No amount of pictures, whether cute or disgusting is going to do it. I know too many people with heart attacks, cancer, etc. who will not quit, no matter, what.

I think the cute kids approach might work better, but only slightly. I'd hazard to say that ALL Smokers (and I am one trying to quit) are completely aware of the risks and majority of us wish we'd never started - but enough is enough with making grotesque ads and social guilt trips. Awareness and societal guilt (i.e., remembering the cute kids) will contribute more to further reducing the rates of smoking. That's the portion of previous campaigns that has been most effective; social guilt! Not ugly pictures that we smokers ignore or cover up.

How about making it more cheaper to get the smoking cessation products instead of gouging people who would love to quit.

I'm a smoker and I find these new packs repugnant. This feeling arises from hc trying to guilt trip manipulate me. Barb was an adult who made a choice as to where she was working. NOT my problem, she was an adult. These kids make me want to puke. Showing pics of a kid in a car. This is illegal in Ontario. It is not the right of health canada to play head games with the general public. There are way more dangerous, cancer causing elements out there, they have NO RIGHT to discriminate against one specific group of people. Until you start putting pics on alcohol bottles and chocolate bars, health canada has no merit!!!! I'm not a parent, shove the kiddie pics up your a**!!!!

Many people who smoke are addicted to the nicotine and the habitual act of smoking. They want to stop but they can't, because it's an addiction. Therefore, no pictures, frightening or smiley and guilt-inducing will make them stop. I don't smoke and never have. But both my parents smoked heavily since their teens. (My mother died of smoking-induced emphysema at age 80.) The best deterrant was watching them smoke when I was a kid. They hacked and definitely did not look cool. The smoke also ruins everything you own because clothes, furniture and the walls/ceilings of your house absorb the nicotine and the smell. They and, inevitably, I went round smelling like an ashtray. Yuk! I saw nothing attractive in the habit and the cigarette ads never fooled me. I am so glad I never picked up the habit. I have no idea if there is an advertising solution to the problem other than to keep on saying "Don't smoke." The idea sinks into some heads.

I am a smoker and wish I never started but now it is a bad habit hard to break.
Why aren't they trying to make a cigarette that are not addictive and no chemicals instead. This will solve the health issues. Some people are just creatures of habit and some need a distraction or break from what they are doing and choose to smoke! Unfortunetly once you start it is very difficult to stop! I know it is possible because I have done it 4 times before for long periods of time!

If you want people to quit smoking then why not just ban tobacco period instead of making such a big deal about it, wasting taxpayers money implementing bylaws, etc. I'm a smoker and really just stop selling the stuff if it's such a big deal, oh wait i forgot the government will lose how much in taxes if we do that...kind of hypocritical don't you think? So which is it sell them and stop with the you should quit stuff or just stop selling the stuff altogether, stop saying and doing both.

I smoked for 56 years and none of the advertising ever encouraged me to quit.
I knew of too many people who smoked from early childhood until they were in their 80's and 90's and the odd ones in their 100's who were still smoking and around to tell the tale. The hard part of quitting smoking is the habit. No alcoholic has a drink every 10 or 15 minutes every day. Smoking becomes an integral part of your life. - Finish a job and sit down and have a smoke. No one can tell me that second hand smoke is MORE dangerous than smoking itself.
That's hogwash! Smokers live constantly in a smoking environment and clean out most of the smoke that they exhale for the non smokers to inhale and they aren't getting any direct tar and nicotine like a smoker is. I have been a non-smoker for over 5 years now. The way that I did it was cutting back as much as I could and then substituting every other cigarette with an herbal one. Health food stores carry them and I would expect that some places that carry vitamins would caryy them as well. I increased the ratio of cigarette to herbal and within a year I was having the occasional herbal cigarettes when the habit hit. The adiction to cigarettes is over in a matter of a few days. I still occassionally reach for my "cigarettes" when I'm drniking and think I want one off and on but that's easy. All II have to do is think of the $250.00+ a month that I now can spend on things that I wanted to do and have.

EXCELLENT