These advertisements recently debuted in France courtesy of the Non-Smokers' Rights Association. The caption below each picture reads: "Smoking means being a slave to tobacco."
Controversy has erupted in France after these anti-smoking ads began appearing in bars, cafes, and tobacco shops. Anti-smoking ads have historically used images to shock the public – whether meant to deter people from starting to smoke or encourage others to quit – but does this ad campaign take the shock factor too far?
The images used in these ads depict oral sex between what appears to be an older man and younger boys and girls. What does this have to do with smoking? Well, the Non-Smokers’ Rights Association says the campaign seeks to show young adults “that smoking isn’t a defiance of authority, but instead a sign of submission and naivete – a behavioral, psychological and physical submission to an addictive drug that will control their acts, dirty their bodies and cost them dearly.”
What do you think? Effective? Offensive? People are certainly paying attention to the ads. But is the message getting lost in the controversy?
Melissa Greer - thoughts and words 