You can learn a lot about a culture from its cigarette warning labels.
The politically-correct United States posts the following warning on its cigarette packs: “The Surgeon General has determined that smoking can be hazardous to your health.”
Prim and proper Great Britain posts the following warning on its packs: “I say, old chap…do use caution whilst enjoying that cigarette; for a most unpleasant health effect may result. Most unpleasant, indeed.”
But my favorite warning label is Spain’s. Anyone who is familiar with the bluntness and economy of the Spanish language will surely appreciate the photo above (which, by the way, is real). In English, it translates to…“SMOKING CAN KILL YOU!!!”
Doesn’t leave much room for interpretation, does it?
But if you think Spain’s cautionary message lack subtlety, just imagine the warning label on a pack of Russian cigarettes!
The label “Smoking can kill you” is (or shortly will be) everywhere in Europe as it is a EU regulation.