Media Release                                               10^th April, 2002

Tobacco companies –

the smoke screen on the silver screen

“Movies that glamorise smoking and popular websites that sponsor rave teen parties are the latest weapons in the competitive hunt for tobacco profits from young people,” according to the Australian Network on Young People and Tobacco (ANYPAT).*  In response to the pro-smoking messages in films,  ANYPAT is calling for anti-smoking messages to be shown in cinemas around Australia.

The first-ever National Youth Tobacco-Free Day will be launched by the Australian Network on Young People and Tobacco on April 10, 2002. The theme for the day is “Tobacco companies … The truth will make you mad”. 

“The aim of National Youth Tobacco-Free Day is to inform and educate young people about the tobacco industry and the dangers of smoking,” says Anne Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

“The tobacco industry in Australia will sell more than $100 million worth of cigarettes to young people this year. You only have to think of popular films like 'My Best Friend's Wedding' and ‘Titanic’ to realise how smoking is glamorised for the movie audience," she adds.

Tobacco companies target young people for the simple reason that over 19,000 smokers die in Australia each year and they need to be replaced.[1]Internal documents and the latest marketing strategies by tobacco companies that have been made public clearly indicate that they are determined to maintain their push to “enlist” young smokers. This is despite their claims that they don’t want children to smoke.

Research has shown that young people are being influenced by this kind of subtle advertising. A recent study in the USA which looked at a cross-section of 4919 school children aged between 9 and 15 has shown that smoking on the big screen influenced young people’s perceptions and weakened their resolve not to smoke.[2]

“This is huge business and if we want to reduce tobacco-related illness and disease in our community we have to pull out all stops to reduce tobacco use by young people,” Ms Jones says.

“We want to encourage young people to use National Youth Tobacco-Free Day to quit smoking and to get them active in advocacy in their school and/or community about the tobacco industry and the dangers of smoking,” she adds.

“I guess you're really vulnerable when you're young and you're influenced by your role models.  So when you see your favourite actor smoking in a movie it looks attractive.  Even I feel like doing it,” says seventeen-year- old Natalie Lippmann from Sydney.

Contact:   Anne Jones, Chief Executive, (ASH)   Mobile:  0417 227879 or (02) 93341876

*The Australian Network on Young People and Tobacco is a network of key people from every Australian State and territory involved in tobacco prevention programs. The group aims to contribute to a decline in smoking among young people. National Youth Tobacco Free Day is the largest initiative undertaken by ANYPAT so far.



Back to Facts and Issues

Page last updated on 13/8/02