Resources For
Warning Labels
This section provides everything you need to effectively communicate about how large, picture-based health warning labels on tobacco packages are an essential component of a strategy to reduce tobacco use.
Facts-Figures
Warning Labels Have an Impact
241 million are considering quitting because of health warnings on cigarette packaging.
May 28, 2015Warning Labels Increase Knowledge About Risks Associated With Smoking
Effective warning labels increase knowledge about risks associated with smoking and can decrease intentions to smoke among adolescents, persuade smokers to quit, and keep ex-smokers from starting again.
November 1, 2014Graphic Warning Labels Have a Greater Impact Than Text-Only Labels
Graphic warning labels have a greater impact than text-only labels and can be recognized by low-literacy audiences and children.
November 1, 2014Effective Warning Labels Cover at Least 50% of the Total Tobacco Pack
Effective warning labels are large, clear, rotating, cover at least 50% of the total tobacco pack and consist of both text and graphic images.
November 1, 2014Pictorial Warning Labels Counter Tobacco Industry Advertising
Pictorial warning labels on tobacco products counter tobacco industry advertising on tobacco products, increase knowledge about risks associated with tobacco use, reduce adolescents’ intentions to smoke, and motivate smokers to quit.
November 1, 2014FCTC Requires Large, Clear Health Warnings on All Tobacco Packaging
Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) are required to implement large, clear, rotating health warnings on all tobacco product packaging within three years of ratifying the FCTC.
November 1, 2014Rotating Graphic Warning Labels Prevents Overexposure
Rotating multiple graphic health warnings every 12 to 24 months prevents overexposure to warning images and reduced effectiveness among smokers.
April 8, 2014Graphic Health Warnings Are More Effective Than Text-Only Warnings
Graphic health warning labels are more effective than text-only health warning labels for communicating the harms of tobacco use to smokers.
April 8, 2014Graphic Warning Labels Should Cover at Least 50% and Rotate Annually
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’s Guidelines for Article 11 recommend that graphic health warnings cover 50% or more of tobacco product packaging and that governments establish a rotation system for revising the content of health warnings every 12–36 months.
April 8, 20143 in 10 Pakistani Smokers Want to Quit Because of Warning Labels
About 3 in 10 current smokers in Pakistan have thought about quitting because of a warning label.
January 1, 201453% of Turkish Smokers Want to Quit Because of Warning Labels
53% of current smokers in Turkey have thought about quitting because of warning labels.
January 1, 2012Over 62% of Thai Smokers Want to Quit Because of Warning Labels
62.6% of current smokers in Thailand have thought about quitting because of color pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages.
January 1, 201190% of Mexican Smokers Noticed Health Warning Labels
90% of Mexican smokers have noticed warnings labels on cigarettes and 40% of current smokers thought about quitting because of them.
January 1, 2009Impact of Pictorial Warnings in Australia on Preventing Smoking
Following the introduction of Australia’s pictorial health warning labels in 2006: 22% of non-smokers and 35% of ex-smokers indicated that the new labels kept them from smoking.
January 1, 2009Impact of Pictorial Warnings in Australia
After Australia introduced their pictorial warning labels in 2006, 63% of nonsmokers and 54% of ex-smokers thought the new labels “would help prevent people from taking up smoking.”
January 1, 2009Impact of Pictorial Warnings on Quitting Tobacco in Australia
After Australia introduced pictorial labels with quitline information in 2006, the rate of quitline callers doubled from the previous two years.
January 1, 2009Over 31% of Russian Smokers Thought About Quitting Due to Warning Labels
31.7% of Russian smokers have thought about quitting because of warning labels.
January 1, 200917% of Polish Smokers Thought About Quitting Due to Warning Labels
17.7% of current smokers in Poland have thought about quitting after seeing a warning label on cigarette packs.
January 1, 2009
Impact of Pictorial Warnings on Quitline Activity in New Zealand
After New Zealand introduced pictorial labels with quitline information in 2008, the number of new quitline callers increased. (The rate doubled from 12% to 27% the first month and then remained at 30% thereafter.)
January 1, 200938% of Filipino Smokers Thought About Quitting Due to Warning Labels
38.2% of Filipino smokers have thought about quitting because of warning labels.
January 1, 2009Comparison of Pictorial Warnings in Canada and Text Warnings in U.S.
84% of smokers living in Canada, where pictorial warnings are required, saw health warning labels as a source of health information, compared with 47% smokers living in the U.S. where only text labels are required.
January 1, 2007Pictorial Warnings Decreased Smoking in 28% of Smokers in Singapore
After Singapore introduced its pictorial warning labels in 2004, a Health Promotion Board survey found that 28% of smokers reported smoking fewer cigarettes because of the warnings.
January 1, 2006Pictorial Warnings Reduced Smoking in Front of Children in Singapore
After Singapore introduced its pictorial warning labels in 2004, a Health Promotion Board survey found that 14% of smokers said that they avoided smoking in front of children.
January 1, 2006Pictorial Warnings Reduced Smoking Near Pregnant Women in Singapore
After Singapore introduced its pictorial warning labels in 2004, a Health Promotion Board survey found that 12% of smokers reported avoiding smoking in front of pregnant women.
January 1, 2006Pictorial Warnings Resulted in Less Smoking at Home in Singapore
After Singapore introduced its pictorial warning labels in 2004, a Health Promotion Board survey found that 8% of smokers said that they smoked less at home.
January 1, 2006Overall Impacts of Pictorial Warnings in Singapore
After Singapore introduced its pictorial warning labels in 2004, a Health Promotion Board survey found that 28% of smokers reported smoking fewer cigarettes because of the warnings; 14% of smokers said that they avoided smoking in front of children; 12% reported avoiding smoking in front of pregnant women; and 8% said that they smoked less at home.
January 1, 2006Impact of Pictorial Warnings on Recognizing Quitline in New Zealand
After New Zealand implemented pictorial warning labels, more smokers recognized the national quitline number than when the quitline information was on the text-only labels (61% vs. 37%).
January 1, 2005Pack-a-Day Smokers Are Exposed to Pictorial Warnings 20 Times per Day
Pack-a-day smokers are exposed to images printed on packs at least 20 times a day (and 7,000 times a year), when they buy and use cigarettes.
December 1, 2003Impact of Pictorial Warnings in Canada
After Canada introduced large pictorial warning labels in 2000, 91% of smokers surveyed said they had read the warnings and were able to demonstrate a strong knowledge of the subjects the warnings covered.
December 1, 2003