Half of all long term smokers will eventually be killed by tobacco and of these, half will die during middle age losing 20 to 25 years of life. If vivid pictures of rotting teeth and blackened lungs bring home the true cost of smoking, print them on packs in the UK in full colour. Ms Stihler said existing health warnings were obscured by clever colour combinations, striking packaging and tucked behind careful displays. Low tar cigarettes inflict the same damage as conventional cigarettes - smokers just draw harder to get the same kick. Current rules Current EU legislation requires cigarette health warnings to cover a minimum of four per cent of the pack.
Member states have the option to go further and the UK opted for six per cent.
Another proposal is to reduce the tar content in cigarettes from 12mg to a maximum of 10mg per cigarette and introduce an EU ceiling for nicotine of 1mg and of carbon monoxide of 10mg. MEPs also want the new standards to apply from 2006 to cigarettes exported from the EU as well as those for European consumption. Dr Vivienne Nathanson, of the British Medical Association, welcomed the European Parliament move. However, I don't think this kind of thing will have much impact as most smokers are well aware of the health risks. Anthrax Links to more Health stories are at the foot of the page.