タバコは有害です

喫煙環境の厳しいオーストラリアでも､毎日欠かさずにタバコを吸った。銘柄は､フィリップ・モリスのピーター･ジャクソン Peter Jackson。そこで毎回お目にかかったのが､タバコのパッケージにしつこいほどに書かれているウォーニング・メッセージ Government Warning Message である。
オーストラリア国内で販売するタバコには､次の６種類のいずれかのメッセージの表示が義務付けられていて､その表示スペースについても､パッケージ全体の面積に対する割合などが細かく規定されている。
興味のある方は､ご自分で訳してみていただきたい。

日本の

あなたの健康を損なうおそれがありますので吸いすぎに注意しましょう
喫煙マナーをまもりましょう

に比べて､格段に厳しい警告メッセージがびっしりと書かれているのである。
この警告によってどの程度喫煙が抑制されているかは､定かではないのだが……

1. SMOKING CAUSES CANCER

Government Health Warning
SMOKING CAUSES LUNG CANCER

Tobacco smoke contains many cancer-causing chemicals including tar. When you breathe the smoke in, these chemicals can damage the lungs, and can cause cancer. Lung cancer is the most common cancer caused by smoking. Lung cancer can grow and spread before it is noticed. It can kill rapidly. For more information, call 132130.
Government Health Warning

2. SMOKING IS ADDICTIVE

Government Health Warning
SMOKING IS ADDICTIVE

Nicotine, a drug in tobacco, makes smokers feel they need to smoke. The more you smoke, the more your body will depend on getting nicotine and you may find yourself hooked. It may be difficult to give up smoking once you are hooked on nicotine. For more information, call 132130.
Government Health Warning

3. SMOKING KILLS

Government Health Warning
SMOKING KILLS

In Australia, tobacco smoking causes more illness and early death than using any other drug. Tobacco smoking causes more than four times the number of deaths caused by car accidents. For more information, call 132130.
Government Health Warning

4. SMOKING CAUSES HEART DISEASE

Government Health Warning
SMOKING CAUSES HEART DISEASE

Tobacco smoking is a major cause of heart disease. It can cause blockages in the body's arteries. These blockages can lead to chest pain and heart attacks. Heart attack is the most common cause of death in Australia. Smokers run a far greater risk of having a heart attack than people who don't smoke. For more information, call 132130.
Government Health Warning

5. SMOKING WHEN PREGNANT HARMS YOUR BABY

Government Health Warning
SMOKING WHEN PREGNANT HARMS YOUR BABY

Poisons in tobacco smoke reach your baby through the bloodstream. If you smoke when you are pregnant, you greatly increase the chance of having a baby of low birth-weight. Smoking may lead to serious complications which harm your baby. For more information, call 132130.
Government Health Warning

6. YOUR SMOKING CAN HARM OTHERS

Government Health Warning
YOUR SMOKING CAN HARM OTHERS

Tobacco smoke causes cancer and poisons people. People who breathe in your tobacco smoke can be seriously harmed. Your smoking can increase their risk of lung cancer and heart disease. Children who breathe your smoke may suffer asthma attacks and chest illnesses. For more information, call 132130.
Government Health Warning

手巻き煙草

ちなみに､オーストラリアでは手巻き煙草を吸っている人が多い。市販のフィルターのついた紙巻煙草は高すぎて手が出ないのか。私の愛用したピーター・ジャクソンは､３０本入り＄８（約５６０円）位した。
これに比べて､煙草の葉だけ入った５０グラムのパックだと＄１２位。これで､うまくいくと１００本は巻けるそうだ。
若いワーホリ君が手巻き煙草を吸っているのを見かけたが､戦後､親父が三省堂のコンサイスの紙で煙草を巻いていたのを思い出し､なんとなく抵抗を感じたのは歳のせいであろうか。