Movies are very influential to a society's norms, values and cultural identity. They affect the way we talk, dress and act in certain situations. The tobacco industry has a history of taking advantage of this influence to sell its product to youths. Movies are used to promote tobacco brands and to "advertise" the acceptability of the act of smoking.
The on-screen usage of tobacco in Hollywood films poses one of the greatest threats to the long term health of American children 10 and older. Each day a staggering 4,000 kids try their first cigarette, 1,000 of whom will become daily smokers. Experts also estimate that movies with tobacco imagery influence more than one third of all new teen smokers to start.
To combat this practice the AMA Alliance launched its Screen Out! campaign to get tobacco usage out of youth-rated Hollywood films. The Alliance's campaign utilizes letter-writing, petition-drives and endorsement campaigns to garner support for the four solutions that the U.S. film industry can implement to eliminate tobacco in youth-rated movies.
Take Action Today! The New York State Department of Health has just run another full page ad in the New York Times and elsewhere urging the big media companies to get smoking out of youth-rated movies. Click here to print out 6 cards that can be sent to the media companies to take URGENT action today. This is a simple action that takes a few minutes but will send a big message.
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Read about upcoming campaign events taking place in your area.
Make your voice heard - sign the Screen Out! petition today.
See the success that our members are having in their communities.