Smoking Warnings Enlarged on Cigarette Packages

Recently, the US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to give a green signal to large warning labels on the packaging of the cigarettes. While refusing the large warning signs, the Court said that the Federal Government has failed to provide adequate documents. Judge Janice Rogers Brown informed, “The First Amendment requires the government not only to state a substantial interest justifying a regulation on commercial speech, but also to show that its regulation directly advances that goal”. The Judge further notes that the government can ask the cigarette manufacturers to show the warning labels but can’t ask for enlarged warning signs. The Court further noted that the government can’t force an action on a legal product. Cigarettes are sold legally and therefore the government doesn’t seem to have any right in discouraging the consumers even if the product is harmful. However, while placing the plea of the government, a lawyer said that every year, cigarette smoke leads to the death of 4, 00,000 Americans. Supreme Court will now address to the appeal. It has come to light that the trial in the Supreme Court would take place next year. Warning signs have been appearing over the package of the cigarettes from past 40 years from now.