ArabianBusiness.com - Middle East Business News
Monday, 09 November 2009 02:57 UAE time

YOUR DIRECTORY /

| Share |

53% dismiss 'shock tactics' plan on smoking

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  on Monday, 21 July 2008
SMOKING GUN: A majority of Arabian Business readers dismissed the smoking initiative as scare tactics. (Getty Images)

Plans to introduce shocking photographs on cigarette packets on sale in the UAE have been dismissed as scare tactics by the majority of Arabian Business readers in an online poll.

Health chiefs in the region are putting pictures of diseased organs and dying cancer patients on all packets in a bid to deter people from smoking.

But the proposal has been criticised by 53 percent of people who took part in our poll who believe the photos won't have any impact on how many cigarettes people in the region smoke.


Story continues below
advertisement

Residents of the UAE spend about $109million a year on tobacco and a government official said the move should help to reduce the number of smokers and, in particular, prevent non-smokers from taking up the habit.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 10 per cent of those aged between 13 and 15 are smokers in the UAE, while in the GCC 13 per cent of youth are smokers.

But less than six percent of respondents said the graphic imagery would encourage them to stop smoking immediately while a further 14 percent said the photos might make them think twice before buying a packet of cigarettes.

More than a quarter of people approved of the initiative saying they would probably persuade them to cut down on the number of cigarettes they smoke but not force them to give up altogether.

| Share |


READERS' COMMENTS

Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.

Click here to post a comment


Add your Comment
All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *
(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments


Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.


MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM

SHARE PRICE CHECK

 EMAIL ALERTS

  1. Culture & Society


Tell us your story

READER COMMENTS

  1. The tipping scandal 13
    08 Nov ' 09 at 16:32
    Steve you are 100% right. Managers and bosses have no right to use tip money for any other purpose than todistribute it to the staff...   More  »
  2. The party's just beginning 10
    08 Nov ' 09 at 18:31
    The recession may be coming to an end, but my guess is that there is no party in sight, just a depression! The typical line i hear in...   More  »
  3. Al Habtoor chief upbeat on Dubai future 08
    08 Nov ' 09 at 20:55
    I agree with Mr Khalafs comments, yesterday is gone,tomorrow nobody seen, what he is expecting beyound tomorow ,is his positive...   More  »

Read all user comments >

Gitex 2009

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM