Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Your Cigarette Pack Is About to Get A Whole New Scary Look
You can't smoke on many restaurant patios, in some apartments, and in several parks and public spaces in the greater Los Angeles area, but if you are still die-hard about the habit, just a heads up that come September, your pack of cigarettes is going to have one of nine new graphic warning images approved by the U.S. Department of Health.
Uncle Sam wants you to know that smoking can harm your baby, send you to an early grave, make your friends and loved ones sick, and eff you up something ugly. The U.S. is most certainly not the first nation to implement such an anti-smoking campaign on the cigarettes themselves; other countries, including many in Europe as well as Canada, "already require cigarettes to display graphic warnings prominently on their packaging," notes the L.A. Times.
The nine images selected by the Food and Drug Administration to run on cigarette packs starting September 22 came from a pool of 36 options. (To see the 27 rejected images, check out the gallery on CBS News' site.)
The goal of the labels is twofold; to turn off potential new smokers from lighting up and getting hooked, as well as to inspire current smokers to quit. The latter is addressed by the inclusion of the number of a stop-smoking helpline in the text of the warning. However, as the L.A. Times points out, that is a hard-won battle for many: "Every year, 40% of smokers try to kick the habit, but the odds are against them: Fewer than one in 10 of those who try to quit succeed."
Support for LAist comes from
Check out the nine images in our gallery. What do you think of the warning labels?
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist