FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNVEILS TOBACCO ATTACK
By Adnews Staff
Health Minister Allan Rock wants to stop adolescents from smoking. The Federal government launched a number of initiatives this week to lower the smoking rate in Canada. The smoking warnings on cigarette packages will be up to 60% larger on the front panel. Other anti-smoking messages will be on the sides, tops and inside sleeves of the packs. Packages will include detailed information about the ingredients of cigarettes, facts about what happens if you smoke and reminders that underage smoking is illegal. There will also be a 1-800 number for those who want to find out how to quit. Other initiatives include: a crackdown on in-store promotions that target youth, a national health warning on the use of the words light, extra light and mild and possibly a restriction on these terms, regulations to make cigarette makers provide detailed information on ingredients in their products, as well as their product research, manufacturing, distribution and promotional activities and a series of new attack ads that go after cigarette makers to force kids to rebel against their marketing strategies. Rock hopes to have the plan initiated by the end of the year.