Macon Residents React to New Smoking Labels

Cigarette packages will show new graphic pictures, in an effort to encourage people to quit smoking, or to never even start.

Dr. David Harvey of the North Central Health District says, these pictures are not exaggerating the dangers of what could happen.

“None of them are made up. They’re not fanticized, they’re life’s pictures of what can happen and what does happen,” Harvey says.

The F.D.A. has approved nine new labels, showing images like a man smoking through a hole in his throat. Another is a picture of a man laying in a casket.

All new labels require large print on the front with the picture, saying that cigarettes can cause death.

Macon smoker Mick Rehberg has seen the new pictures, he says he isn’t sure they will help smokers quit.

“But one thing I do know is that, until somebody’s ready to quit, doing whatever bad habits that they’ve got, they’re not gonna stop,” Rehberg said.

Vice President of Lamar Advertising in Macon Chris Story says, this form of shock advertising can be effective, but this might be more well received in a big city like Atlanta, rather than Macon.

“This (Macon) is more of a bedroom community, kinda smaller, family style community so to speak. Atlanta’s more of a Los Vegas or Los Angeles type town where… people just don’t really react to it like they would in smaller towns like Macon,” Story says.

The new labels would be required to cover 50% of the package.