Smoker “not admirable’

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32959, 4 July 1972, Page 19

Smoker “not admirable’

The older generation, and society, must accept the blame for every adolescent who takes up smoking, says an editorial in the June issue of the ‘•New Zealand Medical Journal.”

Society had condoned smoking over the years, and has "accepted the image of the smoker as one to be admired for manliness or beauty, sexual attractiveness, poise and relaxation.” The Government should ignore the ss6m it received from tobacco-tax revenue each vear. and embark on a

full-scale anti-smoking campaign, said the journal. Health warnings on cigarette packets, notes on the tar and nicotine content, restriction of advertising and promotion, and anti-smoking television advertisements would all play some part in the gradual breakdown of i the social acceptance of the smoking habit. “Even certain taxation

measures might discourage cigarette smoking, in the same way as happened with gin in the 19th century.” Heart disease link The journal said it was concerned with the association between smoking and coronary heart disease, and appealed to doctors to give firm advice to patients to give up smoking. “Legislation by the Government will not eliminate smoking, but if those responsible for the health of the country do not make their own position utterly clear, they cannot expect the young to be impressed.

“Thus the Government must cease to be concerned with the ss6m it receives each year from tobacco revenue, and lend its full weight to some of the measures which enlightened administrators are adopting in other parts of the world.”