Não Fume: Brazil's Anti-Smoking Policies

Anti-smoking propaganda is compelling in Brazil. On the side of of every pack of cigarettes is a warning that reads: "This product contains more than 4,700 toxic substances, and nicotine which causes physical or psychological dependence. There are no safe levels for the consumption of these substances." Yes, this is more honest than the American warnings which consist of an innocuous statement about corbon monoxide or smoking during pregnancy, or even the European ones which state in large bold print "Smoking kills," "Smoking causes a slow and painful death," and other scary thoughts. But wait; there's more.

Covering the entire back of every pack of cigarettes appears one of about ten different warnings on smoking's side-effects with a graphic photgraph to match. This sort of health warning is not specific to Brazil: I know in Singapore they use similar warnings. Still, I thought I'd share what I see every time I light up. This together with the fact that São Paulo is very hilly is making clear that I really need to quit. I'm really thinking about it.

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A SAMPLING OF BRAZILIAN ANTI-SMOKING WARNINGS

In order (from the top going from left to right), they are:

- "When you smoke, you inhale arsenic and naftaline, which are also used against rats and cockroaches."

- "This skin death (necrose?) was caused by tobacco consumption."

- "Smoking causes spontaneous abortion."

- "Children that live with smokers have more asthma, pneumonia, sinusitis and allergies."

- "Smoking causes lung cancer." - This one's thre worst. Yes, those black bags are lungs.

- "This man is a victim of tobacco, which causes vascular disease and can lead to amputation."

- "Smoking causes mouth cancer and tooth loss."




But this is the warning Brazilians hate the most:

"Smoking causes sexual impotence."

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Here are some more I've found:



"Smoking causes throat cancer"



"In pregnant women, smoking provokes premature labor and the birth of children with below normal weight."