Coffin Nails. 7/27/2004
I just bought a pack of my regular brand of cigarettes. First thing I noticed when I stripped the cellophane wrapper off was a slip of paper inserted into the cellophane. I pulled it out and found that it was a foot long strip of paper detailing the side effects and consequences of smoking cigarettes. It also contained a severe admonition not to smoke. This warning was printed in 3 languages in very fine print on both sides of the paper and was worded very simply.
However, the intention of the goverment, in making cigarette manufacturers include this rather lengthy health warning in all the packs of cigarettes that they sell, is defeated by the fact that it takes this side of forever to read, and most smokers will throw it away after reading the first one. Furthermore, the language used in wording the warning was as dry as dust, and read like a excerpt from a law journal. It certainly did nothing to communicate the dangers and side effects of smoking, and it certainly didn’t stick in my mind. I read it, I threw it away, and lit my cigarette.
And started choking. They have changed the formulation of the tobacco, I think. It tasted very different from what I am used to, and am still coughing from that one cigarette. Tasted like warmed over socks. They shouldn’t do things like this without telling us. I have been smoking regularly for the past 20 years. My worst years were the late 80s and early 90s, when I went out clubbing a lot, and was smoking in the region of 4 packs a day.
I guess now’s a good time as any to give up the coffin nails. I’ll let you know how I get on.