Well, the question has already been answered: yes, it is real. The question that should be raised about these adverts is whether they serve any good purpose.
Why didn't your parter believe them? Even if they truly don't, do they think it isn't what happens to smokers? You'd probably have to be a total recluse not to know that smoking kills in some of the most horrific ways-in fact you'd have to be from mars. But what good have these adverts done?
Let me put it like this: Imagine you are handcuffed in a cell without food or water, just a tv. Imagine that on that tv they showed other people like you who have been handcuffed in a cell for weeks and were dying a horrible death. How would you feel? Would you be so shocked that you'd stop being handcuffed in a cell? Or would you feel terrified of your certain death and hate the hypocrasy of someone telling you that if you don't get out you'll die. You don't need motivation, you need a key.
Wouldn't it be better if they showed you a way to pick the lock on the handcuffs! Wouldn't that help more than shock tactics?
Having been a drug addict (that's what smoking is...not a 'habbit', not a 'weakness'...an ADDICTION) for 6 years I can honestly say that those adverts frightened me into smoking. Think about it! You are in a position where you are killing yourself with a poison that is going to kill you! Not only that but the world is intent on rubbing it in! How stressed do you think the average smoker is now? And what do smokers do when they are stressed? SMOKE! It's just a stupid tactic and an incredible waste of money.
If you want your partner to be a non-smoker can I suggest that you NEVER EVER try and apply pressure. It never worked on me or anyone else. What I would suggest you do is read a book called 'Allen Carr's easy way to stop smoking'. It will help you to understand how smoking works, and hopefully your partner will take an interest and prove to you that it isn't hard at all. Anyway, good luck!