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2017
Leading health groups demand film industry give R rating to movies that depict smoking
| Truth Initiative Newsroom (29 Aug 2017)
The letter was signed by the largest-ever coalition of health leaders to unite behind this critical issue, including medical organizations that represent more than 630,000 doctors – the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Medical Association.
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Leading health groups demand film industry give R rating to movies that depict smoking
| American Lung Association (29 Aug 2017)
"The U.S. Surgeon General has concluded that exposure to onscreen smoking such as in movies causes young people to start smoking," said National President and CEO of the American Lung Association Harold P. Wimmer. "To help protect our youth from smoking-related disease and a lifetime of tobacco addiction, the American Lung Association supports giving an R rating to all movies with instances of smoking in them. This is a commonsense step that will save lives."
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Raising the smoking age to 21 may seem arbitrary, but the science behind it is sound
Tracy Moore | DSC Original Content (9 Aug 2017)
But for teenagers, it may not be taxes, age restrictions or other anti-smoking measures that impact whether or not they smoke as much as one big thing: the movies. Teenagers who see smoking in films are two to three times more likely to start smoking, even when controlling for other factors, like whether your parents smoke, socioeconomics or attitudes. Which is why whether or not a teen sees smoking on the big screen is considered the “largest single stimulus” for teenagers to pick up smoking, proving true in a study of 17 different countries.
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When A-list celebrities become unpaid spokespeople for the tobacco industry
Robin Koval | PR Week (8 Aug 2017)
The fashion and entertainment industries seem stubbornly and dangerously stuck in the past as they fall back on old stereotypes, says Truth Initiative's CEO.
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Smoking in movies is popular again and can harm children
Livia Holmblad | Addiction Now (4 Aug 2017)
“The argument we hear sometimes, that ‘this is a long tradition in Hollywood’ or that ‘they’re just reflecting reality,’ is bogus,” Glantz said. “Most of that smoking got put in there because it was paid for."
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Smoking in movies under fire
Suthentira Govender | Sunday Times (S. Africa) (2 Aug 2017)
The study's findings are a concern for South Africa’s National Council Against Smoking‚ which lambasted movie houses for “taking a deadly product and associating it with glamour‚ thrills and independence”.
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El peligro de que los niños vean a fumadores en pantalla
Perri Klass MD | The New York Times (31 Jul 2017)
"En todo el mundo se puede constatar consistentemente que hay dos o tres veces más riesgo en niños que están expuestos a ver una gran cantidad de fumadores en filmes."
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Almost all Emmy-nominated series feature smoking
| Truth Initiative (28 Jul 2017)
This year’s batch of Emmy-nominated shows may be celebrating the chance to compete for television’s top prize, but almost all the finalists in the comedy and drama categories are losing when it comes to public health. All—except one—feature characters smoking.
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Why are fashion's elite making deadly smoking 'cool' again?
| Yahoo! Style (27 Jul 2017)
If what these women wear, eat, and promote, sells, why would cigarette be any different? Three million likes is an easy answer to that question. Here’s the truth: 1,300 smokers die every single day. Isn’t it time for fashion to quit?
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India: Films that show drinking to be certified as 'A'
Rakesh Mehar | The News Minute (26 Jul 2017)
Since Pahlaj Nihalani took over as chief of [India's] Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC), it seems that not a week goes by without the board creating some new controversy. The latest controversial proposal from the CBFC is to certify a film as 'Adult' if it has characters lighting up a cigarette or drinking on screen.
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