Putting printed labels with disturbing images on cigarette packets does have an effect on smokers, it has been claimed.

A study carried out at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania involved an auction of tobacco products with different kinds of packaging.

While all carried the warning 'smoking causes mouth cancer', some had it simply as text, others featured it alongside grotesque photograph and others displayed it prominently on a very plain background.

It was found that the simple text warning had little effect on putting people off cigarettes.

"However, demand was significantly lower for packs with grotesque images, with the lowest demand associated with the plain, unbranded pack," co-author of the report Matthew Rousu added.

He said this suggests that demand will fall for cigarettes if all packaging is made plainer and carries a pictorial warning.

This is despite a recent study by the Universities of Bonn and Koln in Germany finding that printed labels on tobacco featuring health warnings may not be effective.

Their research suggested that smokers' nicotine cravings make them indifferent to the fear response such images would usually produce.

Denny Bros Ltd, 12 August 2011