This May Be “The Best Anti-Smoking Ad” Ever

Avid smokers and anti-smokers disagree on quite a lot when it comes to cigarettes, but they can all agree on one thing: no matter how much people enjoy it, there is no doubt that smoking cigarettes can cause great deal of damage to your body. Regardless of the fine print on each package stating “Surgeon General’s Warning: Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy,” most continue to smoke and disregard the warning or cannot yet kick the habit. Whatever the reason may be, sometimes we all just need a little reminder as to how deadly cigarettes can be.

Just see for yourself below.

 

The campaign titled Smoking Kid was created for the Thai Health Promotion Foundation by Ogilvy & Mather. Although it was created over three years ago, it seems to have recently gone viral once again.

In the video, which won the Bronze Award at the 2012 Bronze Cannes Award, various adults are followed and approached by a child with a cigarette asking for a light. Even more interesting than children asking for a light are the responses that the adults give to the children. Smoker after smoker, many with a cigarette still in hand, remind the children of how bad smoking is and tell the kids that they are too young.

A few moments later, the child responds with “If smoking is bad, why do you smoke?” They then give the adult a note which reads, “You worry about me. But why not about yourself? Reminding yourself is the most effective warning to help you quit.”

smo copy

The message that this video sends is definitely one that will not be forgotten. The filmmakers use of everyday life scenarios for this campaign contributes to the effectiveness of the video. It has opened up the eyes of many, including my own.

(Source: 1)