Russia to boo smokers: from scary messages to disturbing pictures

The country’s Health Ministry is pushing for a new regulation that will oblige the tobacco industry to print onto cigarettes packs large and gloomy images of the effects of smoking.

Russian health minister Tatyana Golikova announced his plans at a meeting with the EU health commissionaire.

The images are going to be very graphic, portraying smoker’s yellow teeth, black and withered lungs eaten by cancer, effects of vascular disease, and dead babies.

The technique has been successfully used in a range of countries, including the UK and Thailand. While it is assumed that the measure does not influence older smokers, younger people are more likely to be put off the dangerous habit.

Forty four million smokers make Russia one of the world’s leaders in this area. In recent years, the country has been trying to improve the situation by introducing a number of anti-tobacco measures.

Back in summer 2010, the country ruled that each pack of cigarettes must have a frightening warning on it. The warnings informed smokers that their habit could lead to impotence and infertility, cause heart attacks and strokes, as well as result in a “slow and painful death.”

The government also banned cigarette ads and prohibited smoking in public buildings. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin even urged government officials to quit smoking “to set a good example.”

More anti-tobacco measures are on the way, including a complete ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, set to take place by 2015.

Also, a presidential aide has recently revealed that the government is looking to hike the price of cigarettes up to five times the current cost.