[movlabc]

My Thai friend pointed this one out to me last night. Now this is a visual warning on a packet of Thai cigarettes reading to the likes of 'Cigarette Smoke Leads Life To Death'.
Now, in the picture someone is supposedly paying respects to the dead body by pouring holy water over the corpses hand.
But, in the picture the person is using a seashell to pour the water. My friend said that according to Thai custom you only use a seashell to pour water when a couple get married! As for funeral custom, a small plastic bowl or the likes is used.
Now, if this is really a big cock-up then that is funny.

Can anyone verify this?

[Golotop]

I think your friend is right. But I dont get why they use this picture. To tell us what? Getting married to cigarettes lead to death?

[ireleda]

I don't know what it is for on a pak of cigs.
As has been stated, the sea shell is only used in a marriage and not in a death.

That is the info that I get from all the Thai I have asked..

[largonioulurI]

Well maybe there getting married to death.

[movlabc]

So, it really does look like a complete mistake. If it were marriage they were trying to mean, then you have to place two hands together - not one out like in this picture!
Thanks for the confirmation.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

Any other country you could probably sell that cigarette pack on ebay for a lot of money. Don't throw it away!

[movlabc]

Any other country you could probably sell that cigarette pack on ebay for a lot of money. Don't throw it away!

Thanks for the idea. I'll buy a whole carton!

[JennyStewarta]

Send them an invoice for your author's fee

[Nautilus]

If institutions like the TCT can not get the culture right-what chance do we mere farangs have?

[bensabath]

Hahaha.. Human Error. But you know, In singapore, we also have pic printed on cigarettes box to warn ppl. I don't think you would like to see, I should say, it's pretty grossed... But that don't stop ppl from smoking too! Despite the hike in price and the grossed pic.

[movlabc]

Bangkok Post and Others, Thieving Ideas From Thailandqa.com?

What the heck is this! I was chatting to a Farang friend last night about this thread here and a big photo warning mistake. He informed me that just yesterday, the Bangkok Post printed a story quite identical. Perhaps it is just co-incidence like..... but it wouldn't surprise me if it isn't. Let you judge..




[I Bangkok Post August 14

TOBACCO / DISCOURAGING SMOKERS

Controversial picture replaced
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG

The Tobacco Control Committee is to launch a new health warning picture on cigarette packs this week after the use of a conch in one of its designs stirred up public uproar. (On thailandqa.com??)

The committee has withdrawn the old picture, which showed a hand-held conch being used to pour water onto the hand of a dead person to imply that smoking can cause death.

In Thai tradition, a conch is normally used for auspicious ceremonies such as weddings, not funerals[/I]