‘Stay out of it’: Viewers unleash on ‘manipulating and condescending’ anti-smoking advert released by the ‘brainwashing’ government
- Commentators have slammed the NSW Government’s new anti-shisha advert
- The ‘Shisha No Thanks’ campaign is to alert people of the risks of smoking shisha
- It is not a safe alternative to tobacco and carries high risks of developing illness
- Comments believe the ad is attacking shishas new popularity over cigarettes
- The government have been accused of attacking Arabic culture in the campaign
Online commentators have slammed the NSW Government after they released an anti-shisha smoking advertisement.
The advert for the new ‘Shisha No Thanks’ campaign was posted on the Western Sydney Health Facebook page to alert people of the risks involved in partaking in a shisha smoking session.
In the video, a group of people are attending a barbecue when a father asks ‘what do you reckon guys, time for a shisha?’
A woman brings the water-pipe out to the delight of the gathering, bar one man who sees a mound of cigarettes on top of the hookah instead of flavoured tobacco.
Online commentators have slammed the NSW Government after they released an anti-shisha smoking advertisement (pictured)
The video claims that a 45 minute shisha session is the equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes.
Commentators have accused the government of slamming shisha in the campaign in response to its growing popularity as a cheaper alternative to cigarettes.
‘Typical government propaganda to brainwash people into buying rip off cigarettes,’ one comment says. ‘I’d have a shisha any day of the week.’
‘Awesome. Cheaper than cigarettes. And less tax. Good insight,’ another post reads.
‘Because they know shisha has become the new trend they are making it look as dangerous as possible,’ another commented.
Yet another said: ‘The health department needs to stay out of this.’
Other comments accused the government of attacking Arabic culture in the campaign.
‘Wow, nice way to bash the culture,’ one comment reads. ‘How about a stupid ad about Australians getting drunk and beating their missus?’
A comment on the campaign video reads that smoking shisha is ‘awesome. Cheaper than cigarettes. And less tax. Good insight.’ (stock image)
Cancer Institute NSW chief executive Professor David Currow told The Pulse that smoking shisha is not a safe alternative for smoking tobacco and that people should be aware of the inherent risks of smoking in any form.
‘A person who smokes shisha is at risk of the same health problems that a person who smokes cigarettes faces, including cancer and respiratory illness,’ Professor Currow said.
‘While these products, also called ”herbal shisha”, may not contain the nicotine in tobacco, the smoke contains highly toxic substances.
‘The addition of fruit flavouring and sweeteners does not reduce the harmful effects of the smoke.’
The ad campaign claims that a 45 minute shisha session is the equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes (stock image)