Egypt: New tobacco packaging warning is a marketing joke

So here it is: The new picture and text on cigarette packs in Egypt does not do the job. If you are in marketing, you will know what I mean just by looking at the picture on this page.

Or maybe you do not “get it” right away. I am not afraid to admit that I did not. Someone had to explain to me what the symbolism of that picture means. And then I finally got it. Now, a few weeks later, I found this picture, and decided to share this information with you.

Personally, I think whoever was responsible for this, did not do a  very good job. There are so many other ways to inform smokers about the health problems caused by smoking (see below for examples and check the link from Brazil)

Ok, so this does not work, but what would you do?
It would be interesting to hear from you. What would you do if you were charged with designing and writing copy for a tobacco packaging warning? Please use the comment box, or email me and I will gladly post your suggestions.

Below I have listed a number of cigarette warnings from different countries.


Smoking seriously harms you and others around you (Albania)
Smoking is detrimental to health (Argentina)
Don’t let children breathe your smoke (Australia)
Brazil: See this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cigarettes_brazil.JPG
Smoking hurts yourself, and hurts others (Taiwan)
Get help to stop smoking /consult with your doctor/pharmacist) (Croatia)
Smokers die sooner. (Germany and Austria)
Smoke contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanides (Czech Republic)
Smoking is highly addictive, don’t start (Finland)
Smoking can cause low blood pressure and impotence (France)
Smoking causes premature skin aging (Greece)
Smoking can cause a long and painful death (Hungary)
Get help to stop smoking: Callsave Quitline 1850 201 203 (Ireland)
Smoking causes oral cancer. (Italy)
Smoking kills (Latvia)
Smoking may reduce the blood flow and causes impotence (Malta)
Smoking during pregnancy harms your baby (Netherlands)
Smokers die prematurely (Portugal)
Protect the children. Don’t let them inhale your tobacco smoke (Sweden)
Stopping smoking reduces the risk of fatal heart and lung diseases (UK)
SMOKING CAUSES CANCER (India)
Warning by the government of Malaysia, Smoking endangers health (Malaysia)
WARNING: Quit smoking; live longer life. Ministry of Health. (Pakistan)
Smoking tobacco causes nicotine dependence (Russia)
Want a baby? Smoking reduces fertility in men and women (Serbia)
Smoking causes 92% of oral cancer (Singapore)
Seriously damages health (Switzerland)
Smoking also causes paralysis and heart diseases (South Korea)
Smokers die younger. (Ukraine)
Children start smoking when they see adults smoke (Venezuela)

How about you? Any ideas to a copy/image that would prevent people from buying that next pack of cigarettes?