Smoking in Movies Should be Ended

It is not something new in movies especially for someone in a very fashionable home, surrounding all the luxury things, to place a cigarette around between his fingers and puff away, mainly when he/she is under stress or simply to show off. This happens so many times that subconsciously, smoking seems to be like the habit of the rich and the sophisticated culture. But very soon this portrayal might be no more.

Tobacco companies have always understood that influence. There was a time when they even made deals to put their products onscreen. It wasn't disclosed publicly, of course . . . it comes out in court when files get subpoenaed. In the '80s, we learned Phillip Morris paid the makers of "Superman 2" thousands to put its name behind the Man of Steel. Superman is Marlboro Man! Artistic freedom! In the '90s, companies agreed to stop paying, but there's no way of keeping tabs.rnLibertarians make the slippery-slope argument: Next you'll ban alcohol! Car chases! Well, no. No one's banning anything, just saying, "Kids shouldn't be able to see it so easily." The MPAA already restricts the language in PG-13 movies and there's no wiggle room: You can shoot someone, but can't use a naughty word for having sex with them. Frankly, I'd rather my kids hear bad words than see their favorite actors bleep their bleeping lungs with bleeping cigarettes. rnThere's no word on Joe Camel, but I heard off the record he's very sick.

Recently, in March, the Senate adopted the National Tobacco Control Bill. The given Bill also will supervise the activities of the tobacco enterprises as well as protects the citizens especially children. The main principle of the Bill includes prohibiting smoking in public places and in specially created places. It also includes non-advertisement of smoking in movies and music videos and while every pack will have a surgeon general’s health warning. In those places where people are not allowed to smoke, the warning will be placed in English and indigenous languages.

No longer will young people be able to purchase cigarettes or light up in movies as the Bill determines ages which will be a requirement in order to buy. The Bill also states that tobacco products can only be purchased in packs and no longer singly. And the last and not the least tobacco products shall never ne advertised or sponsor any event.

The National Coordinator of Coalition Against Tobacco, Ms. Toyosi Onaolapo, declares that after 25 months of actively engaging the legislature to prompt the tobacco companies to show a similar level of responsibility as demonstrated in their home countries, they are contented that they have proof for it. She states that there is more to be done as there should be conformity with the provision of the Bill. The most important objective is to protect public health and safety. “The battle against tobacco was not so easy because the industry has a significant amount of resources to struggle them to a pause. In movies they are presented as rich and influential and when you are under pressure, tobacco is the best method to cool off. In fact it is not true,” stated the legal Counsel for CAT, Mr. Babtunde Irukera.

Irukera declared 62 % cases of various dysfunctions, impotence and loss of vitality is a straight consequence of smoking. He added that for women, it was as bad as their reproductive health was at risk as a result of smoking. He stated that even though tobacco enterprises debate about their relevance to the society, they do not allow more than 945 jobs throughout the industry and over all, are on a non rigid moral ground.