Stop smoking ad

[missprim]

Does anyone else find this advert distasteful? It's the one where a fish hook is put into someone's mouth and I really can't stand to watch it.

[banjosister]

Hey Missprim,

I think that's the whole point of it, not that it will stop me smoking, I just turn the telly over!

[brachiopod]

Well, smoking is a pretty distasteful habit, so a little shock television does no harm if it encourages some people to quit.

(If that sounds too preaching, I'm a smoker myself - I just go out for a fag while the advert is on.... !!)

[curlyperm]

i thought it had already been banned? due to all the complaints? i think they have modified it a little? ie not dragging the smokers right accross the floor anymore? must admit i'm a smoker, and it deters me not one bit? just think the adverts a bit ott

[missprim]

Thanks for your replies, especially brachiopod who goes out for a fag while the advert is on, excellent ! I don't see this as shock tactics encouraging people to give up smoking, I just see it as violence encouraging some scallies to try it out on some innocent person.I hope it has been banned and I think that perhaps the advertising agencies should ask the people who smoke what would encourage them to give up.I can't imagine anyone saying ' well, seeing someone dragged across the room with a fish hook in their mouth would make me stop'

[mehlindi]

Smoking is distasteful and kills people. If the advert's shocking and perhaps causes even one person to re-think how hooked they are, then it's worth it.

If you really think that's distasteful, be thankful you don't live in Australia - they take a rather more direct approach with their anti-smoking campaigns.
http://www.duncans.tv/2006/quit-smoking