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Smoking Warnings Needed On DVDs, Lawyers Say
NBC 4 Columbus ^ | November 18, 2005

Posted on 11/18/2005 8:47:29 AM PST by flutters

LOS ANGELES -- With a new study showing that exposure to on-screen smoking prompts many American adolescents to light up, attorneys general from 32 states want Hollywood to slap anti-smoking admonitions on all new DVDs.

They signed a letter sent this week to 10 movie studios asking executives to add anti-smoking public service announcements to all home-viewing releases that depict smoking.

"We're urging (studios) to do more," said Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr., author of the letter.

"The industry's leaders are responsible Americans," he said, "and I'm sure they're just as concerned about the health of their children as the doctors are."

The attorneys general suggest that studios include a public service announcement with all upcoming DVDs. A spot has already been developed by several organizations for theatrical use beginning in January.

Kori Bernards, a spokeswoman for the Motion Picture Association of America, said studios will consider the request individually.

"There's no collective decision at this point," she said, pointing out that MPAA ratings already indicate whether a movie depicts underage smoking.

Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School concluded that exposure to smoking in movies is a "primary risk factor" in determining whether kids will take up the habit.

The study, released Nov. 7, looked at 6,522 adolescents and found that 38 of every 100 who tried smoking did so because of their exposure to smoking in movies. The more on-screen smoking that kids see, the more likely they are to light up, the study found, regardless of where they live or whether their parents or peers smoke.

Bernards pointed to a study published in August by the American College of Chest Physicians that shows villains do more on-screen smoking than heroes.

"We in the industry recognize that this is a serious health problem," Bernards said. "Filmmakers have to have some creative rights to depict human behaviors because that's what movies are about."

This isn't the first time movie studios have heard from state prosecutors on the smoking issue. The National Association of Attorneys General adopted a resolution in 1998 asking the entertainment industry to limit tobacco use in films.

Members also met with studio heads and former MPAA President Jack Valenti in 2003 to discuss the impact of on-screen smoking on young movie watchers.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: overlawyered
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If only we could get them to put a DUmmy liberal warning on the label.
1 posted on 11/18/2005 8:47:30 AM PST by flutters
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To: flutters

It would be funny to watch the reaction of the busybody liberal do-gooders if you suggested a similar warning for movies that depict gay sex.


2 posted on 11/18/2005 8:50:13 AM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: flutters

Smoking Warnings Needed On DVDs, Lawyers Say

----I know every time I pop a movie in a DVD player, I get the urge to light up. (just kiddin)


3 posted on 11/18/2005 8:50:18 AM PST by WasDougsLamb (I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man.)
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To: flutters

However, CDs and video games have no effect on behavior. Just DVDs.


4 posted on 11/18/2005 8:51:04 AM PST by L98Fiero
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To: flutters

Where are the Anit-stupid behavior warnings, anti-herion, anti-coke, anti-premarital sex, anti-getting shot in the chest with a howitzer, warnings? How stupid, obtuse, and inane can someone be?


5 posted on 11/18/2005 8:51:23 AM PST by benjamin032
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To: dead
It would be funny to watch the reaction of the busybody liberal do-gooders if you suggested a similar warning for movies that depict gay sex.

ha ha ha

6 posted on 11/18/2005 8:51:53 AM PST by Fido969 ("And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).)
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To: flutters

DVDs smoke? Who knew??


7 posted on 11/18/2005 8:52:12 AM PST by Marie Antoinette (Welcome to my little Rosemary Anne, born 10/24)
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To: flutters

Oh boy. Maybe they will have Woooopie do the warning like she did on the new Looney Toons DVD set.


8 posted on 11/18/2005 8:53:08 AM PST by Kokojmudd (Outsource the US Senate to Mexico!)
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To: flutters
It's bad enough now that I have to endure the torture of commercials, promos, and other crap.

Now the nanny-lawyers want to tell me to stop smoking?

That might be useful, except for the fact that I DON'T SMOKE...

It won't be surprising that piracy tools that can scrape this pointless crap suddenly become more popular as consumers become sick of being nannied-to-death. Hey Hollywood, I bought your stupid product for the movie, not for the preliminary garbage. You want to put that stuff on DVDs? Put it at the friggin' end, where no one will watch it!

Dumba$$es...

9 posted on 11/18/2005 8:55:57 AM PST by kromike
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To: flutters

Instead of labeling DVDs, I suggest they slap an anti-smoking label on all new DVD players.


10 posted on 11/18/2005 8:56:18 AM PST by GSWarrior (Posting bandwidth-consuming images since November 2000.)
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To: WasDougsLamb
----I know every time I pop a movie in a DVD player, I get the urge to light up........

You too, huh? I'm so glad to know there are others out there.
(I thought I was the only one)
Hell, I'm now up to a "pack per DVD"......
(This Madness must be stopped!)
</sarcasm>

LOL

11 posted on 11/18/2005 8:58:52 AM PST by Fiddlstix (Tagline Repair Service. Let us fix those broken Taglines. Inquire within(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: flutters; Just another Joe; CSM; lockjaw02; Publius6961; elkfersupper; nopardons; metesky; Mears; ..

Another Nanny State BS alert.

Like the Attorney's General of the numerous state don't have anything better to do??????//


My bets are on the idiot Sptizter in NY for this crappola...........probably got a great big campaign donantion from Glantz and his nanny group that want all movies with ANY smoking in them to be rated "R"

**SIGH**

Talk about people being STUCK ON STUPID.


12 posted on 11/18/2005 9:00:34 AM PST by Gabz
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To: flutters
Smoking Warnings Needed On DVDs, Lawyers Say

"Warning ... If your DVD is smoking the movie is probably not suitable for viewing by children."

13 posted on 11/18/2005 9:01:26 AM PST by layman (Card Carrying Infidel)
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To: flutters
What a novel idea! How 'bout this:

WARNING! This dangerous work contains graphic accounts of violence, youthful defiance of familial authority, and teenage suicide! Proceed to read at your own risk! Think of the children!

Romeo & Juliet, by Mr. William Shakespeare, now continues...

/Sarcasm

14 posted on 11/18/2005 9:01:28 AM PST by A Jovial Cad ("If you kill enough of them, they stop fighting." -General Curtis LeMay)
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To: Gabz
"We're urging (studios) to do more," said Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr., author of the letter.

OK - I goofed - wrong state AG - same mindset though.

15 posted on 11/18/2005 9:03:57 AM PST by Gabz
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To: Gabz; Just another Joe; Madame Dufarge; MeeknMing; steve50; Cantiloper; metesky; kattracks; ...
Sure. For the KIDS! And guess what the KIDS are into ?!


16 posted on 11/18/2005 9:06:28 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: flutters

I tried smoking a DVD once, it was REAL hard rolling it...


17 posted on 11/18/2005 9:10:21 AM PST by laker_dad
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To: SheLion

LOL! Excellent cartoon. Libs definitely have their priorities skewed.


18 posted on 11/18/2005 9:17:29 AM PST by 6SJ7
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To: 6SJ7

Now why would anyone need to put a warning label on a fine movie like the 1999 flick "200 Cigarettes"?


19 posted on 11/18/2005 9:18:47 AM PST by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: flutters

Can't we just digitally change the cigarette to a carrot?

20 posted on 11/18/2005 9:21:31 AM PST by KarlInOhio (We were promised someone in the Scalia/Thomas mold. Let's keep it going with future nominees.)
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