Doctors want higher certificates for films glamourising smoking

Tag : cigar smoking


The message to young people is that smoking is associated withsuccess and money, where as in reality it is people from the lowestsocio-economic groups who smoke, she said.

The report Forever Cool, was launched yesterday (sun) as theBritish Medical Association's Annual Representatives Meeting gotunder way in Edinburgh.

Almost one in ten children aged between 11 and 15 smoke and almostall adults who are addicted took up the habit before the age of 18. Other recommendations in the report include: requiring a licence tosell tobacco, and placing it under the counter in shops, as well asbanning all sales from vending machines.

All packaging should be plain and minimum prices should be set forall products.

As well as raising the age to view a film with positive images ofsmoking, they should be preceded by an anti-smoking advert showingthe dangers of cigarettes. Dr Nathanson, said: "During the last decade we have seen a numberof encouraging developments in tobacco regulation that include theintroduction of smokefree legislation throughout the UK. However,the long-term trends for people quitting have slowed down in recentyears so it is essential that further action is taken to promote atobacco-free lifestyle that deglamourises smoking.

"Young people are surrounded by positive images of tobacco –from smoking by parents and peers, to celebrities and role modelsthey see in the media. They are also exposed to robust tobaccoindustry marketing – all this serves to reinforce the habitas being 'forever cool'. A Government consultation on the future regulation of tobacco endedin May and asked for comments about vending machine sales, plainpackaging and a ban on packs of ten.

A Department of Health Spokesperson said: "Protecting children fromsmoking is a priority - taking away temptation is one way to dothis. We recently launched a consultation looking at how we canstop children smoking.

"Proposals and ideas include removing branding and logos from alltobacco packaging; having a minimum pack size of 20 – to stopyoung people, who can only afford packs of 10, buying cigarettes;restricting access to cigarette vending machines and restrictingthe display of tobacco products in shops, which may include puttingcigarettes under the counter."