Posted on 10/02/2005 3:21:40 PM PDT by elkfersupper
With smokers being increasingly shunned in public places, Japan's largest cigarette maker is offering a rare treat -- tickets to a film preview where they can smoke all they want.
Japan Tobacco, which sells nearly two-thirds of the nation's cigarette products, will invite 150 lucky smokers who won a lottery to a private showing of the film-noir thriller "Sin City" next Monday, said company spokesman Tsuyoshi Miyashita.
Anyone over 20 years of age could apply, but there was one condition attached -- they had to pledge that they smoke.
"The event is to provide a rare opportunity for smokers to light up freely while watching the movie, so they can enjoy the film without suppressing their urge to smoke," Miyashita said. "I remember seeing filmgoers smoke in theaters, though it's impossible today."
The planned event, believed to be the first in Japan, is also part of JT's "Smart Smoke" campaign to promote its new products with reduced cigarette odor, but the guests can smoke any cigarettes they like, the spokesman said.
Though Japan's smoking rate remains one of the highest in the developed world, smoking has been banned in movie theaters, train stations and other public facilities.
Japan's overall smoking rate fell for the ninth consecutive year in 2004 to just below 30 percent of adult population, JT said. (AP)
Maybe we can get Phillip Morris to host a movie premier in the U.S.
Nah!
This is something, eh?
That is real brilliance at work.
I like it. I would even go if the movie stank, and it had Barbara Streisand, Alec Baldwin, and George Clooney in it.
"Sin City" is an outlandishly creative flick.
You should smoke while watching it, even if you don't usually smoke.
A couple of strong margaritas beforehand won't hurt either.
"It's time to prove to your friends that you're worth a damn. Sometimes that means dying, sometimes it means killing a whole lot of people."
That is becoming increasingly impossible or inadvisable also (along with smoking).
If the movie is shown outdoors, great. But if not, will anyone be able to see the screen by the end?
I, along with several of the other patrons, smoked in indoor movie theatres at will from 1965 until about 1992.
No problem.
Sin City deserves to be seen in a large, smoke-filled room...
Not to mention calling out a haz-mat crew to sanitize the movie theater after the showing. Haaaaaaaaa.
Why? You sound like that anti-smoking nazis, but in the opposite direction.
ROFLMSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's the funniest thing I've read in a long time!!!!!!
Nah!
You've got that right - PM do anything for it's customers - not a chance.
I love it! Even though you can't yell "Fire!" in a theater, apparently, you can yell "Smoke!"
You've got that right.
ROFL!!!!
I haven't been in a movie theater since 1982 (E.T.) - can't get comfortable in the seats.
Is this the same Frank Miller who did all those really great Daredevil comics? And the Dark Knight limited series?His art and writing style are really powerful.
I'm going to the next stockholders' meeting.
Think I'll get in trouuble? Wanna' come?
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