SMOKERS BURY HEALTH WARNING UNDER HUMOUR
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:38 am
Smokers Bury Health Warning Under Humor
BERLIN (Reuters) - German smokers fed up with the eye-catching health warnings now required on cigarette packets sold in the European Union have begun covering them with their own messages rich in gallows humor.
"Begging cigarettes from others can lead to sudden death," reads one black and white warning, imitating one of the 14 EU-mandated health messages required since last month.
"Move out of the way! I'm headed for the graveyard" and "I smoke because you stink" are two other warnings that German smokers are sticking on their packs.
EU rules dictate that warnings such as "Smoking Kills" must now cover at least 30 percent of the front of each packet and 40 percent of the back. Smoking-linked diseases kill more than 500,000 EU citizens each year.
Other messages mock EU warnings that smoking can lead to impotence: "The cigarettes contained in this package can lead to a renewed erection," reads one. "Hey, do you want to jump in the sack with me?" is another popular choice.
BERLIN (Reuters) - German smokers fed up with the eye-catching health warnings now required on cigarette packets sold in the European Union have begun covering them with their own messages rich in gallows humor.
"Begging cigarettes from others can lead to sudden death," reads one black and white warning, imitating one of the 14 EU-mandated health messages required since last month.
"Move out of the way! I'm headed for the graveyard" and "I smoke because you stink" are two other warnings that German smokers are sticking on their packs.
EU rules dictate that warnings such as "Smoking Kills" must now cover at least 30 percent of the front of each packet and 40 percent of the back. Smoking-linked diseases kill more than 500,000 EU citizens each year.
Other messages mock EU warnings that smoking can lead to impotence: "The cigarettes contained in this package can lead to a renewed erection," reads one. "Hey, do you want to jump in the sack with me?" is another popular choice.