Lessons From Tobacco Control

In 1957, the first bill involving cigarette pack labels is introduced to Congress.  The label said, "Warning: Prolonged use of this product may result in cancer, in lung, heart and circulatory ailments, and in other diseases."  In 1965, the Surgeon General's Warning was put on cigarette packs.  In 1970, Congress put a stronger health warning on cigarette packs and banned cigarette advertising on television and radio.  There are four current U.S. warning labels.  First, "Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy."  Second, "Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health."  Penultimately, "Smoking by Pregnant Women May Result in Fetal Injury, Premature Birth, and Low Birth Weight."  Lastly, "Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide."  Cigarette warning labels that are most effective are prominent, novel, "graphic", comprehensive and relevant.  An unintended consequence of warning labels is that they protect industry, not consumers.  This source has good information so I will use it in my final paper.

Center for Tobacco Policy Research. (2007). Do warning labels work? Lessons from tobacco 
     control. Retrieved from http://ctpr.wustl.edu/documents/warning_labels_2007.pdf