Not even 50 years ago, many people felt skeptical about the hazards of cigarette smoking. Although increasing numbers of studies showed that some connection existed between tobacco and lung and heart ailments, questions still remained about the true effects on health. In 1964, however, the United States Surgeon General Luther Terry confronted 200 media reporters in a State Department auditorium for two hours and completely changed the course of history. For the first time, the American government made it official: Smoking causes lung cancer. How much of an impact did this warning and other warnings to come by the Surgeon General and additional interested parties in the future alter the numbers of people smoking nationwide? The results are not too promising.

             After the Surgeon General's first announcement, there was an immediate reaction. At this time, about 46 percent of people smoked in the U.S. When Americans heard the Surgeon General's words of warning, they decreased cigarette consumption by 20 percent. In addition, the number of individuals actually smoking fell as much as 30 percent. Research found that the vast majority of smokers believed their habit would harm their health. However, the reaction did not last long. The following year, more than 42 percent of adults were still smoking. This was despite the fact that the 1965 Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act required U.S. Surgeon General's warnings on all cigarette packs (Bowman).

             Congress twice strengthened the labeling requirement. First, in 1969, it stipulated "Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined that Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous to your Health," a significant upgrade from the 1965 "may be hazardous" wording. Next, in 1984, Congress went further and required that four different warnings be rotated. Each warning would be preceded by the phrase "Surgeon General's Warning.": 1) Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema and May Complicate Pregnancy; 2) Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health; 3) Smoking by Pregnant Women May Result in Fetal Injury, Premature Birth and Low Birth Weight; and 4) Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide" (Derthick,15).