Canada has announced strong measures to discourage people from smoking. From August, every individual cigarette sold will have a warning message on it. Canada will be the first country to do this. The messages will include: "Cigarettes cause cancer," "Tobacco smoke harms children" and "Poison in every puff." The government said: "This bold step will make health warning messages virtually unavoidable." The Canadian Cancer Society hailed the action. It said: "Having a warning on every cigarette…is a world precedent-setting measure."

Canada announced its strategy on World No Tobacco Day. It has unveiled other anti-smoking measures to deter people from continuing with or taking up the habit. There will be 28 graphic pictures highlighting the health consequences of smoking, as well as how it harms the body's organs. In addition, warning labels on cigarette packets will take up a minimum of 75 per cent of the display area of the pack. Health Canada said its steps would help to get its message across. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable disease and death.