Image via Complex Original
We aren't here to judge people's life decisions. Smokers know what smoking does to your body, so don't worry; we won't preach.
Anti-smoking campaigns have become as commonplace as toothpaste commercials these days, and for some reason, people still aren't getting the message. Millions of dollars are spent on print and television ads to convince nicotine fiends to kick the habit, but not all of these initiatives are created equal, so we did some digging and found The 25 Best Anti-Smoking Advertising Campaigns.
Come on puffers, give it a rest.
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25. Chair
25. Chair
Client: The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation
Agency: CHI & Partners
This ad Photoshops adult arms on children to show that when the adults smoke in the house, so do their children.
24. Chemicals
24. Chemicals
Client: Smoking Awareness
Agency: The Classic Partnership Advertising
Cigarette packages don't list ingredients so smokers are not constantly confronted with them. If this were printed on packages, we are positive that sales would decline.
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23. 42
23. 42
Client: Nicotinell
Agency: Euro RSCG
"Premature" is being generous. This ad is funny while delivering a serious message in honor of World No Tobacco Day.
22. Cigarette
22. Cigarette
Client: Hospital A.c. Camargo
Agency: JWT
Excuse us while we throw up.
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21. The Smoker's Lung
21. The Smoker's Lung
Client: AOK
Agency: Serviceplan
This glass lung-shaped cigarette butt receptacle was placed outside of the health insurance company's building, as well as hospitals, pools, and restaurants. Advertising that you physically have to engage with forces people to pay attention, and this one was too pretty (and simultaneously ugly) to ignore.
20. Joe Chemo
20. Joe Chemo
Client: Adbusters
Agency: Scott Plous
This cartoon was created as a parody of the popular Joe Camel character from Camel cigarettes. It caught on and was eventually seen on billboards.
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19. Smoke is Poison
19. Smoke is Poison
Client: Department Of Health/Cancer Research UK
Agency: Ogilvy
This chemical tanker in the form of a cigarette drove around the UK to "get under the radar of smokers who block out anti-smoking advertising." On the back of the tanker were toxic chemical labels for some of the chemicals found inside cigarettes, so motorists could not help but read them.
18. If You Light Up, You Die
18. If You Light Up, You Die
Client: Presidencia de la Republica Colombia Joven
Agency: ToroVazquezMora / Fischer America
Pretty damn harsh words, but the image of a lighter resembling a gun is amazing and powerful.
17. Fumer, C'est Etre L'Esclave Du Tabac
17. Fumer, C'est Etre L'Esclave Du Tabac
Client: Les Droits des Non-fumeurs (The Rights of Non-smokers)
Agency: BDDP & Son
In English, the caption translates to: "Smoking is to be the slave of tobacco." Naturally, some people took issue with the depiction of children with the implied similarities to forced oral sex, to which the President of the group responded, "Young people think that they are invincible, immortal. Fear of sexual exploitation worries them more than illness." While the posters became more about sexuality and less about the dangers of smoking, they inspired a much needed dialogue around the subject and that's never a bad thing.
16. Suicide
16. Suicide
Client: National Anti-Drug Agency
Agency: Mercury360
This ad would not fly in certain places. It shows a man "hanging" from his cigarette inside his home. The image is striking to say the least, but the ad is also great because of its unapologetic boldness.
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15. Twin Towers Smoking
15. Twin Towers Smoking
Client: ASH
Agency: DDB New Zealand
This print ad from 2008 is one of the more potentially offensive anti-smoking ads we've seen, but it definitely paints a vivid picture. The text reads: "Terrorism related deaths since 2001: 11,337. Tobacco related deaths since 2001: 30,000,000. For help call 0800 ASH INFO." The contrast to one of the greatest tragedies in recent history helps drive the point home.
14. For More Information On Lung Cancer, Keep Smoking
14. For More Information On Lung Cancer, Keep Smoking
Client: The Lung Association
Agency: TBWAVancouver
This one is clever and straight to the point.
13. Quit Smoking Today
13. Quit Smoking Today
Client: New York City Department of Health
Every New Yorker will recognize this campaign. What you may not know is that a judge ruled that these ads were too grotesque to be displayed in places where not everyone is looking to purchase cigarettes. It looks like the campaign was too good at being a deterrent.
12. Stop Consuming Your Body
12. Stop Consuming Your Body
Client: ADESF (Associação de Defesa da Saúde do Fumante)
Agency: NeogamaBBH
Burning cigarettes in the shape of vital organs are bound to catch a smoker's attention.
11. Smokers Make Poor Swimmers
11. Smokers Make Poor Swimmers
Client: ASH
Agency: Clear Marketing Communications
Any negative side effect to one's genitals should serve as a wake up call! The ashes made to look like sperm was incredibly creative.
10. Worst Side
10. Worst Side
Client: Les Droits des Non-fumeurs (The Rights of Non-smokers)
Agency: BDDP Unlimited
We don't know about you, but this makes second-hand smoke ten times more disgusting than we previously thought.
9. Brown/Blonde
9. Brown/Blonde
Client: CONAC (Chilean Corporation Against Cancer)
Agency: MAYO DraftFCB
Very disturbing. As if the smoke bags around their heads weren't enough, the fact that the kids are crying makes these ads even more effective.
8. I Chose To Smoke
8. I Chose To Smoke
Client: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
These commercials from 2008 are now running again in 2013. It features Marie, an ex-smoker from the Bronx, New York who suffers from Buerger's disease and has had over 20 amputations.
7. Think It Makes You Pretty?
7. Think It Makes You Pretty?
Client: Centre of Social initiatives
Agency: BBDO Moscow
This is what we see when cute girls spark up. Instant turn off.
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6. Hole
6. Hole
Agency: The Lung Association
The idea of putting a cigarette into a hole in someone's neck is cringe-worthy. Someone undoubtedly got upset and ripped this down.
5. Would You Drink It?
5. Would You Drink It?
Client: Public interest ad in Ahlan Magazine
Agency: Intermarkets
The label reads, "Surgeon General's Warning: Drinking this water causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy." Beneath the bottle are the words, "Would you drink it?" The ad plays on the idea of how common sense is ignored with cigarette warning labels but wouldn't be if placed on other goods.
4. Get Unhooked
4. Get Unhooked
Client: UK Department of Health
Agency: Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy
Yet another awesome ad that was too much for some people to handle. These images of people with fish hooks through their faces representing a smoker's addiction to cigarettes were banned after a record 774 complaints were received by the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK. Wordplay isn't always appreciated when there are visuals attached.
3. TheTruth.com
3. TheTruth.com
Client: American Legacy Foundation
Agency: Arnold
Launched in 1998, TheTruth.com spots/ads have become the most known anti-smoking campaigns probably ever. From the "Singing Cowboy" to the "Body Bags" commercial, ALF has used real-world demostrations with unscripted audience reactions to get people to visit their website for anti-smoking facts and information. ALF was taken to court by Lorillard Tobacco Company for taping conversations that were later used in an advertisement in which the company allegedly attempted to purchase dog urine for use in cigarette production.
2. Smoking Kid
2. Smoking Kid
Client: Thai Health Promotion Board
Agency: Ogilvy Thailand
In this genius video, two children approach various smokers asking them for a light for their cigarette. All of the adults refuse and remind the children that smoking is bad, until the child hands them a brochure and walks away. The translation of the brochure reads: "You worry about me, but why not worry about yourself?" The video states that nearly all of the adults extinguished their cigarettes and none of them threw away the brochure. Following this campaign, the Thai Health Promotion Board reported a 40% increase in calls to their hotline.
1. Tips From Former Smokers
1. Tips From Former Smokers
Client: CDC (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Agency: Arnold
This $54 million dollar campaign launched in March 2012 with video content that includes former smokers with tracheotomies giving tips on how to live with a hole in your neck, testimonials from people who quit, and the personal stories of amputees, stroke victims, and asthmatic children. The ads don't mention the tobacco companies but instead show the potential dangers of smoking without the use of actors or fancy computer graphics.