U.S. cigarette packages will print new warnings about the dangers of smoking

U.S. cigarette packages will print new warnings about the dangers of smoking. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday, June 21, a series of images that will be printed on cigarette packages...

The images show rotting teeth, lung lesions and dying cancer patients. These images must be printed on the top half of the front and back labels of all cigarette packages by October next year. Warnings must also account for one-fifth of all tobacco advertising.

The decisions announced are part of the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which gives the federal government the power to regulate tobacco products. Although the number of smokers in the United States has been declining steadily for decades, surveys show that about 20% of people still smoke.

U.S. Surgeon General Catherine Sebelieu said the labels are intended to deter children from starting to smoke and encourage adults to quit smoking. U.S. cigarette packages have had warnings in small print on the side for more than 25 years, but many people say the current warning messages are not effective enough.