New Zealand To Put Graphic Images On Cigarette Packs

Everyone agrees that smoking is bad for your health; in this country every pack of cigarettes has a warning spelling out the health risks.

New Zealand is going one step further; graphic images of rotting teeth and feet with gangrene will be put on cigarette packs.

This is government as Big Brother or as Nagging Mom -- it's taking things a little bit too far.

And it may backfire -- kids might think it's cool to have a pack of cigarettes with gross images. Kids love gruesome things like "Nerds" candies and "Garbage Pail Kids" cards. "My pack of cigarettes has a picture of rotting teeth. What does yours have?" "My pack is cooler, it has a picture of a throat with cancer."

Adults don't need the state acting as a nanny, we are aware of the dangers of smoking. Mature individuals shouldn't be treated like kindergartners, we know how to read and don't need no stinkin' pictorial warnings.

I'm not a smoker by the way, and I don't like to be put in the position of defending evil cigarette companies, but I'm not crazy about the government acting as a nanny.

What's next? Will a bag of Doritos have a pictorial warning showing Oprah Winfrey in all her Rubenesque glory? Will a bottle of Jack Daniels have Nick Nolte's mug shot? Will a computer come in a box with an image of Bill Gates?

Thailand, Canada, Australia and Brazil also use graphic images on cigarette packs, I hope this madness doesn't spread to America.