For a country with so many smokers, little social stigma
about smoking, and where you are allowed to smoke nearly anywhere, the warnings on Thai cigarettes are
surprisingly large and horrific.
Last year in the U.S., there was talk of putting graphic
images on packs of cigarettes, taking up 50% of the packaging as a dramatic
warning system. I perused the proposed images. They have nothing on the Thai
warning pictures.
However, I find many of the warnings here confusing, misleading,
or even slightly amusing. Why is Thai Fabio smoking into the face of that
child/probable kidnapping victim? Holy hell, who lit that man’s foot on fire?
Also, are these really warning me of the dangers of smoking? Oh well, at least
the Thais are going all out.
It was actually strange going to other Southeast Asian
countries last spring; the cigarette packs looked disconcertingly bare.
Disclaimer: I realize that writing about the fact that we
are smokers in Thailand may spawn some criticism. However, in our defense, it
took us a long time to get all of these empty packs together. Oh, and we have
set Feb 1st as our quitting date, so you can all rest easy.
