A great many quit smoking campaigns have been initiated in the media. Although the subject is a serious one, the ads have attracted interest and fascination from every age group. In general, the scariest ads seems to be the ones with the fewest words, although there are certainly facts aplenty to back up the decision to quit smoking.

Suicide

Most stop smoking ads feature the image of death or dying in some form another. This ad with a simple image of a cigarette and a hangman’s noose on a black background is a prime example. The noose symbol relates death and smoking in a gut level manner. The idea of committing suicide rather than having an accidental death should make smokers stop and think about the dangers of smoking.

Blackened Skull

An even more stark image is this picture of a blackened skull growing from the end of a partially smoked cigarette. Below the image are the words ‘Smoking Kills.’ It’s hard to imagine a more clear and effective message. Even if you don’t take the time to read the words, the message is still displayed and is likely to remain in the mind of the smoker.

Autopsy

A much more wordy and scholarly quit smoking ad is from France. It simply lists the dangerous components of a single cigarette in terms of the harmful chemicals, tars, acids and other ingredients that make up the tobacco plant.

Skull and Crossbones

Another, more complicated death image is seen in this stop smoking promotional material. There are few words in this ad, but the visual images are striking. The skull and crossbones is obvious in portraying death, but the more subtle image is found in examining the objects that make up the accepted symbol for death and danger. Cigarette butts arranged in this pattern are another graphic image that links smoking and death. There is a subtle image of the deadly rattlesnake in the coloration of the image. The final touch is the pun on the word ‘packs’.

Nicotine Testing Kit

This image is included even though it is not in English. The very rough Turkish translation is something like “To her, life isn’t a right.” This image represents the very real danger of second hand smoke in an effective way. When a smoker recognizes the danger of smoke to his or her children it can sometimes be a deterrent to lighting up. Even the smoker who is prepared to accept the danger to his or her own lungs should be willing to stop smoking in order to protect the lives of family and friends.

* Images from bp.blogspot.com

Posted under Nicotine & Smoking
Tags: accidental death, harmful chemicals, image of death, second hand smoke, secondhand smoke, smoking ads, smoking campaigns, stop smoking, tobacco plant.