An Eye on Saudi Blog

Via: freedigitalphots.net

It seems that Saudi Arabia and the remaining GCC countries are planning to start showing gruesome photos on cigarettes packs in an attempt to fight smoking. The idea is not new, Canada started it in 2001, around 30 countries followed suite.

I do not know but I hope the GCC regulators asked themselves this question: how effective is this technique?

Here is the common, and maybe shocking, understanding: “there is no conclusive evidence, we do not actually know how effective this technique is.” There are researches pointing to each and every direction. On one hand, there are researches pointing that photos actually work; not only that, but the worst the photos are, the better the results (check here). On the other hand, there are researches claiming that such warning photos are working, but in the opposite direction; these photos could be responsible of firing the crave to smoking in the brain (check out here & here).

I think the problem with all these studies, and the reason why we have such mixed and contradictory results is that we are dealing with the human behavior here, something that is dependent on so many variables that are different from a place to another, from a culture to another, and even from an individual to another. Of course I am not implying that psychological and behavioral studies cannot be managed, but it seems to me in this particular case that researchers had not consider the ‘universal’ outcome of their studies. In other words, the variables were not thoroughly prepared to reach a conclusive universal outcome.

And let me clarify something here, I would love to see a smoking free world, at least to save the environment for of my children and grandchildren (when they come … I am still young!). But I tend to agree with those wondering why the such extreme measures are only taken against tobacco products (check here). I know there is a believe that they cost humanity a lot of lives, but what about fast food and their ultra doses of fat and sugar added to our meals? what about carbonated beverages? what about alcohol? yes it is not available in Saudi, but I have never heard of such measures taken against them. I do not know, I am just wondering.

What I am trying to say here is this; If it’s your problem, you better give it some of your own thoughts. Be creative and come up with your own ideas to fight smoking. Or at least verify those measures you are taking and conduct your own studies. Stop copycatting!