Senior Editor of commercial partnerships, HuffPost UK
|
If you’re a non-smoker, chances are you’ll have felt concerned about the health of a loved one who is a smoker.
So why not pop a personalised health warning for cigarette packets into their stocking? We’re sure that’ll go down a treat.
The ‘Smoking Kills’ warnings, which are synonymous with all cigarette packets nowadays, were adapted by creative duo Oli + Josie to allow people to directly confront smokers about their health.
“We think it could be the perfect stocking filler for the family member in need of a New Year’s resolution,” Oli told The Huffington Post UK.
Open Image Modal
Oli Josie
The pair decided to launch the idea during of the Christmas party season, where they believe social smokers come out of the woodwork.
The pair, both of whom used to be social smokers and one of whom used to be a full-time smoker, were inspired by the introduction of plain cigarette packaging earlier this year.
The pair believe we are so used to seeing graphic warnings on cigarette packets that we have grown “desensitised” to the health messages and hope this new tool will help get people to think about the health consequences of their actions once again.
Creating the label is simple. Type in a name of your choice, print it off and slide it underneath the plastic wrapping on the cigarette packet to cover the current ‘Smoking Kills’ warning.
The pair believe that most people will just “play around” with the packaging.
Josie explained: “That’s why we included some more fun examples like ‘Smoking Kills Bae’ or ‘Smoking Kills Dave’. The other way is more serious, like ‘Smoking Kills Mum’, or ‘Smoking Kills Sister’.”
She added: “In a way it doesn’t matter how people use it as along as it gets people to notice the label again.”
Open Image Modal
OIi Josie
The idea was initially started as a parody of the Coca-Cola campaign where they printed people’s names on cans. Marmite, Cadbury’s, Nutella, Toblerone, all did it too.
They decided to create their own version, but for cigarette packets.
The duo, who also created The Homeless Period campaign, hope that their ideas can be used for good.
Speaking to HuffPost UK, Oli revealed they would like to work with a charity like ASH UK or Cancer Research UK to create something for when regular packaging is banned in May 2017.
Every cigarette you smoke reduces your expected life span by 11 minutes. (credit:Jasper White via Getty Images)
FACT 2(02 of12)
Open Image Modal
There are roughly 10 million adults who smoke cigarettes in Great Britain. (credit:Bertrand Demee via Getty Images)
FACT 3(03 of12)
Open Image Modal
Two-thirds of smokers start before the age 18. (credit:Flying Colours Ltd via Getty Images)
FACT 4(04 of12)
Open Image Modal
The proportion of the population who are smokers has decreased since the 1970s. A sixth of the population smoke now, in comparison to nearly half of the adult population smoking in 1974. (credit:Dražen LovriÄ via Getty Images)
FACT 7(05 of12)
Open Image Modal
Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds including: carbon monoxide, arsenic, formaldehyde, cyanide, benzene, toluene and acrolein. (credit:murengstockphoto via Getty Images)
FACT 8(06 of12)
Open Image Modal
Smoking poses a huge risk to your cardiovascular system.It also steals some of your good cholesterol, increases the risk of clotting and temporarily raises your blood pressure. (credit:Jeffrey Hamilton via Getty Images)
FACT 9(07 of12)
Open Image Modal
Immediately after you quit smoking, your lungs and other smoke-damaged organs start to repair themselves. (credit:Oko_SwanOmurphy via Getty Images)
FACT 10(08 of12)
Open Image Modal
Smoking is England’s biggest killer. Half of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually be killed by their addiction. (credit:Westend61 via Getty Images)
FACT 11(09 of12)
Open Image Modal
100,000 smokers in the UK die every year from smoking related causes. (credit:Shui Ta Shan via Getty Images)
FACT 12(10 of12)
Open Image Modal
In 2012-13 the Government earned £12.3 billion in revenue from tobacco tax. (credit:Jasper James via Getty Images)
FACT 13(11 of12)
Open Image Modal
Usage of electronic cigarettes has tripled in the past two years. 2.1 million adults in Great Britain now use them. (credit:diego_cervo via Getty Images)
FACT 14(12 of12)
Open Image Modal
A report by Dr Robert West of University College London found that e-cigarette use from popular brands is expected to be at least 20 times safer (and probably considerably more so) than smoking tobacco cigarettes. (credit:mangojuicy via Getty Images)