Background:
Pictorial warnings are among the most prominent and cost-effective health communications available.There are substantial literature that pictorial warning are effective among older tobacco user ,who have experienced symptoms of illness but does not have preventive effect on youth who reportedly see the messages as lacking relevance and realism .Use of tobacco product is prevalent in all ages but youth have been particularly vulnerable and tobacco use among them means exposure will be longer with subsequent high adverse consequences .Prevalence of tobacco use in Chandigarh among youth (15-24 yrs) is 20 % .Therefore knowledge of pictorial warnings among youth becomes essential to monitor and assess the effectiveness of tobacco controls efforts. Adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable to influences of use tobacco use.

Methods:
A cross sectional survey was conducted among 1000 students A set of six pictorial warnings were shown to students and they were asked to score between 1(low) to 5 (high) for seven indicators (accuracy, noticeable, scary,informative,reduce tobacco consumption, helps to quit and stop initiation). The mean of set of six pictures were measured, for each of 7 indicators

Results:
Among all six pictures, Picture 4 (Face cancer)and Picture 6 (mouth cancer)were considered most accurate by study population. Picture 2(cancer of mouth in young boy) was perceived as most noticeable, while Picture 6(mouth cancer) was most scary. Overall Picture 4 (Mouth Cancer) was perceived most informative, helps to reduce tobacco consumption, helps to quit and stop initiation of tobacco use. A majority of participants reported that pictorial warning on tobacco product is scary

Conclusions:
This study concludes that pictorial warning have significant effect on tobacco prevalence and quit attempts in Chandigarh,India .Pictorial warning arouse fear feelings among participants.
More the scarier the pictorial warming more will be impact on youth in quit intentions