Smoking Warnings Needed On DVDs, Lawyers Say

NBC 4 Columbus ^ | November 18, 2005

[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.

[Gabz]

That pretty much about sums it up, doesn't it.

[sportutegrl]

Oh please don't let them put those annoying 'truth' public service ads. That has to be the most annoying commercial of all time and I am a non smoker.

[Casloy]

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.

I wish they would, I hate when I have that overpowering urge to have gay sex everytime I see it in a movie.

[Gabz]

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

Believe me, they are al ready looking for ways to do some such things as you suggest.............

[Redcloak]

Yup... Gay cowboys eating pudding is one thing; but smoking? We can't have any of that!!

[counterpunch]

This is more liberal nonsense, and totally unnecessary.
The headache I got from trying to smoke a DVD was enough to keep me from ever doing it again.

[SheLion]

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

There sure are a lot more important things to worry about in this day and age.

[NavyCanDo]

There ya go, just add it to the films credits attached to:

No animals were hurt in the filming and the picture, and people smoking in this film in no way advocate cigerette smoking, but do it on film only because it looks cool.

[ghost of nixon]

"The industry's leaders are responsible Americans," he said

...so the Film Industry leaders are responsible Americans and merit only a suggestion by lawyers that they label DVD's. All other industry leaders, however, are obviously evil and need to be sued into submission (or until trial lawyers are sufficiently rich).

[Mears]

OMG,hysterical!

I just rented the old movie "Mrs Miniver" and in the movie people smoked. I watched it with my 10 year old grandaugher who,of course,knows that I smoke. I just explained to her that more people smoked in those days---it wasn't even an issue with her.

I have more problem with things like "Grand Theft Auto" that seems to encourage cop killing. I have a son that is a police officer.

I would much rather have my grandchildren watch a DVD with nice people smoking than a DVD with non-smokers killing police officers.

What an absolutely insane world we are living in.

[CSM]

I wonder, how do we get a list of the AG's.

[Gabz]

What an absolutely insane world we are living in.

Yes it is.

As SL said - there are a lot more important things going on today.........

It's not as if there are no crimes being committed in those 32 states that the AGs should be investigating.....

[bk1000]

I can't believe it. More useless cr@p to endure before the start of the movie. Probably won't be able to zap through it either. One would think there were absolutely no problems in the world since useless nonsense like this is on the agenda of attorneys general everywhere. The last thing we need are more stinking stupid warning labels!

[Gabz]

I'm awaiting a download of the letter as i type this :)

[Gabz]

I'm awaiting a download of the letter as i type this :)

[Gabz]

Here is the text of the the press release.

There is a link to the actual letter itself in the presser - but it's a PDF file and I'm having difficulty getting it to open.

---

CURRAN ASKS HOLLYWOOD TO ADD ANTI-SMOKING MESSAGE TO DVD’S

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that he has asked Hollywood's major motion picture studios to insert anti-smoking public service announcements in all DVD's, videos and other newer home viewing formats of movies in which smoking is depicted. Attorney General Curran's letter also is signed by 31 other Attorneys General.

Curran's letter is prompted by the November 7, 2005 publication of the most recent study to find that adolescents with the greatest exposure to depictions of smoking in movies were almost three times more likely to try smoking than their peers in the least exposed group, even after controlling for other known smoking initiation factors. The study, which appeared in the journal Pediatrics and was conducted by the Dartmouth Medical School with National Cancer Institute funding, is the first to determine the effects of viewing smoking in movies on a nationally representative sample of youth in the United States.
" This latest study reiterates what we have been telling the motion picture industry for two years, we need their help in protecting our children," said Attorney General Curran.

Attorney General Curran's letter also notes that an anti-smoking Public Service Announcement (PSA) currently is being produced by the American Legacy Foundation, founded with money from the States' Tobacco Litigation Master Settlement Agreement, to run in theaters across this country. Citing the scientific evidence that airing an anti-smoking PSA lessens the effects on youth from viewing movie smoking, Curran told the studios that they "can dramatically increase the number of young people who will receive that anti-smoking message by attaching it to DVD, video and other home viewing format movies (such as Universal Media Discs, "UMD's")" that the studios distribute in which smoking is depicted.

From the 1998 landmark settlement with the tobacco industry, to the 2004 settlement over the Kool Mixx Hip Hop campaign, actions to prevent internet tobacco sales, and negotiated agreements on best tobacco sales practices with national retailers like BP Amoco, ExxonMobil, Walgreens, Walmart, RiteAid and 7-Eleven, Attorney General Curran has made reducing youth smoking a priority of his administration.

[gidget7]

There is NO need for more smoking warnings. I would however, support a warning on the most hazard's life style the world has ever known, with a higher mortality rate than smoking alcohol or any other substance abuse. Even cuts ones life in half as apposed to shortening life spans by a few years on average.

No secret what those ads would warn against!!! But they are also the very ads we will never see.

[Gabz]

DUH - I guess a link would help.......

MD AG Press Release"

[gidget7]

Not to me, I would really appreciate the warning. An H maybe, to indicate homosexual content. Should be on every tv program as well, imo!

[Mears]

Just noticed yout tag-line and your state.

GLSEN is entrenched in some of my grandkids' school system in Massachusetts.

This same school system sent my oldest grandaughter home in tears when she was in kindergarten because the little ones were told that smoking kills and she worried that I,her grandmother,was going to die because I smoke.

Needless to say neither her parents(non-smokers) nor I were too pleased about this and let them know it.