Graphic images to be put on cigarette packets

Graphic images which will soon be put on cigarette packets are to go public display tomorrow.

One of the images chosen shows the affects of smoking on teeth

The images show the effects of a smoking-related tumour on the throat of a man. They also display rotten teeth and the effects of smoking on lungs.

Fourteen images in total have been chosen by a panel from the Department of Health and Children and the Office of Tobacco Control to be displayed on cigarette packets.

They will be shown in the public library in Dublin's Centre Library at the ILAC Centre.

The law will ensure that the photographics must take up at least 30 per cent of the front of the packet and 40 per cent on the back.

Such images are mandatory in several countries including Belgium and Uruguay.

The Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney told a major conference on tobacco in Dublin's Mansion House that legislation to make the images mandatory on all cigarette packets will be drafted as "quickly as possible"

She said: "I think photographs are far more powerful medium than words and we have seen the effects of graphic images in relation to drinking and speeding. They really do impact".

She also indicated that she is in favour of a ban on smoking in cars.

The ban was first mooted by the anti-smoking lobby Ash Ireland on the basis that holding a cigarette while driving is similar to holding a mobile phone.

They also presented research last month which suggested that smoky cars are 11 times more toxic than the smokiest pubs before the ban.

Ms Harney said such a ban would need new legislation and she was prepared to listen to the arguments for such a ban.

"It is a matter for the Government, but I'm in favour of doing anything as Minister for Health if it is in the interests of public health as far as the consumption of tobacco is concerned," she said.

New research carried out by Pfizer Healthcare Ireland and unveiled at the conference has found that 80 per cent of people are favour of further restrictions on tobacco products with 82 per cent in favour of removing the display of tobacco products in shop and 73 per cent in favour of a price hike of displaying tobacco products in shops.