Aussie smokers will be reminded of the consequences of the harmful habit beyond the packaging, with the introduction of new warning labels on individual cigarette sticks.
The move is one of many new mandatory changes to tobacco products set to come into effect from Tuesday.
A cigarette with a warning makes health messaging unavoidable, as the wording is printed on the filter which doesn’t burn down, according to a joint statement released by Quit and Cancer Council.
The Department of Health and Aged Care said one of eight on-product health messages must be duplicated on opposite sides of the filter of every cigarette.
Australia is the second country in the world to introduce warnings on individual sticks, following Canada, with phrases to include ‘causes 16 cancers’ and ‘damages your lungs’.
Professor Sarah Durkin of Cancer Council Victoria said updated messaging was essential to deter Australians from smoking.
“Graphic health warnings have long proven effective in increasing knowledge about the harms of smoking, preventing smoking uptake and encouraging people who smoke to quit,” she said.
“But evidence has shown that the effectiveness of the current warnings has decreased over time, as people have become accustomed to seeing the images.”
Professor Durkin said additional side effects of tobacco use had since been discovered.
“The new graphic health warnings feature some of these harms of smoking that people may not be aware of, such as diabetes, erectile dysfunction, cervical cancer, DNA damage, and the impact of second-hand smoke on children’s lung capacity,” she said.
Quit Director Rachael Andersen said the changes would act as a “disincentive to smoke” and a “bridge” to support services.
“Our hope is that these new changes will provide new education to people who smoke about the harms at the same time as informing them of the supports to quit…” she said.
Cancer Council’s Tobacco Issues Committee chairperson Alecia Brooks said the organisation was proud to see the changes come into effect, making Australia one of the first countries to require “evidence-based” health promotion inserts and on-stick messaging.
“It’s not lost on us that despite Australia’s relatively low-prevalence, smoking is still a top public health priority,” she said.
“While 66 Australians die from smoking-related illness every day, we’ll continue doing all we can to end the lethal impact of tobacco.”
Cigarette packs will also feature 10 new graphic health warnings under the changes, and 10 new health promotion inserts with information on the benefits of quitting and support services will be introduced.
The changes follow a phased ban on menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products, which came to an end on Monday.
Retailers have been given a three-month grace period from Tuesday, however, during which they may “sell-through” stock that complies with old legislation.
“Menthols are often the first type of cigarettes people try and can act as a pathway into nicotine dependence,” a Cancer Council spokeswoman said.
“The menthol ban helps remind people that there is no safe way to smoke and even a ‘smoother’ cigarette is just as harmful to their health.”