Ban on smoking scenes in movies sought

MANILA, Philippines – Anti-tobacco advocates are setting their sights on movie and television scenes showing actors and actresses smoking cigarettes, saying these should be banned.

Dr. Maricar Limpin, head of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance-Philippines (FCAP), said they are consulting with their lawyers on how to have such scenes prohibited in movies.

“Most likely we’ll have to amend the law to be able to do this. But I hope that our producers and directors will realize that they also have their social responsibility to the public. I hope that they’ll realize the ill-effects of cigarettes,” Limpin said in a telephone interview.

Starting last Tuesday, the advertisements of cigarettes in newspapers, magazines and the like and sponsorship by tobacco companies have been banned as stipulated in Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.

Under the law, tobacco ads have been prohibited in television, radio and movie houses since January 2007 while outdoor billboard ads have been banned starting July 1 last year.

Limpin added that the purposes of such bans would be defeated if movie and television personalities would continuously be seen smoking on screen.

She said the entertainment industry might only be used by cigarette companies in promoting their products.

“Show business is a very influential industry,” Limpin said. “Many Filipinos, especially the young ones, imitate what they see on TV or in movies so they must really be covered by the ban.”

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) expressed alarm over the results of the 2007 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) showing that four million – or one out of five Filipino youths – are smoking.   –  Sheila Crisostomo