Introduction
The regulations requiring tobacco companies to include warning labels are founded on the need to reduce nicotine intake, limit cigarette dependence, and mitigate the adverse effects associated with addiction to smoking. In regard to consumer protection and awareness, I feel that these requirements are crucial as they inform users of the dangers associated with the product. According to Ngo et al. (2018), these visual displays enable customers to make informed decisions on their purchases and consumption. Such policies should be extended to all harmful products, including alcohol and some food supplies, deemed hazardous to consumers.
Roles of Warnings and Possible Alternatives
The impact of warning labels on smokers largely depends on consumers’ attitudes and level of addiction. According to Shadel et al. (2019), research has revealed that graphics demonstrating smoking effects only reduced purchases among new smokers and those with low dependence levels. Therefore, I feel that such messages may not help long-term cigarette smokers since they have developed an affinity for the product to the extent of complete dependence. Tripathy and Verma (2020) argue that warning labels raise users’ cognition and comprehension of the associated dangers. One of the effective ways to facilitate limited consumption and aid in quitting is developing social programs in which personalities who have suffered from smoking-related health effects share their personal experiences (Klein et al., 2020). Learning from real-life tales would be more effective than warning labels since people would easily relate to the circumstances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, consumption habits are significantly influenced by publicity and product marketing strategies such as print and electronic media messages. For instance, young smokers may desire to identify with some celebrities used by tobacco companies to advertise cigarettes. Therefore, using warning labels on cigarette packs would limit consumption levels, although better results would be obtained by using real-life personalities and influencers to speak of the dangers of smoking. Using warning labels on food products would be an effective way of reducing the consumption of unhealthy foods. For instance, it is evident that people consume junk and health-hazardous products because they are accompanied by images displaying good outcomes. Replacing such images with warning messages such as rotting teeth on soda might deter people from purchasing more unhealthy food products.
References
Klein, E. G., Czaplicki, L., Berman, M., Emery, S., & Schillo, B. (2020). Visual attention to the use of# ad versus# sponsored on e-cigarette influencer posts on social media: A randomized experiment. Journal of Health Communication, 25(12), 925-930. Web.
Ngo, A., Cheng, K. W., Shang, C., Huang, J., & Chaloupka, F. J. (2018). Global evidence on the association between cigarette graphic warning labels and cigarette smoking prevalence and consumption. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(3), 421. Web.
Shadel, W. G., Martino, S. C., Setodji, C. M., Dunbar, M., Scharf, D., & Creswell, K. G. (2019). Do graphic health warning labels on cigarette packages deter purchases at point-of-sale? An experiment with adult smokers. Health Education Research, 34(3), 321-331. Web.
Tripathy, J. P., & Verma, M. (2020). Impact of health warning labels on cigarette packs in India: Findings from the global adult tobacco survey 2016–17. Behavioral Medicine, 48(3), 171-180. Web.