Let the world know where you stand. Sign our latest petition - DON'T GLAM TOBACCO

WHAT IS "DON'T GLAM TOBACCO" ABOUT?
"Don't Glam Tobacco" is what we call our effort to get the entertainment industry to stop glamorizing tobacco use in movies,music videos and TV programming. The entertainment industry unrealistically makes tobacco use look cool, sexy, tough and fun and is proven partially responsible for getting kids started on smoking. A number of new or popular artists glamorize tobacco use, including cigars, blunts, cigarettes and hookahs in their songs.  A few examples include Young Jezzy’s video “Go Getta”, guys are sitting around the table drinking and puffing cigars; Beyonce’s album cover for “Smokin’ RNB”, she is holding a cigar that sends a powerful message to her fans. 

HOW SERIOUS IS IT?

• 75% of US movies released between 1999 and 2006 included smoking: 88% of R-rated films, 75% of PG-13 films and 36% percent of PG or G films.
• This one takes the cake...since 1999, HALF of all films with tobacco use were youth-related films with a PG or G rating!  Yikes!

WHY DOES IT MATTER?
52% of kids will start smoking or more likely to have positive attitudes toward smoking in the future if they see their favorite stars smoke.  Tobacco
glamorization results in 10,200 Hoosier kids picking up the habit every year.
 
Kids are influenced by Hollywood! It's no secret that kids model what Hollywood stars wear and do-like Ashlee Simpson's studded belts, Ashton Kutcher's trucker hats, Terrell Owens' army fatigues, Carrie Bradshaw's spiked heels with jeans. We model behavior in the same way. Somebody's gotta' look out for our little brothers and sisters!

WHAT DO WE WANT DONE?
We want smoking de-glamorized and OUT of youth entertainment. Hollywood already considers violence, sexual situations and language in its ratings for audiences of different ages. Yet, tobacco kills more than all of those COMBINED. We want the entertainment industry to take smoking-the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S.-as seriously as it takes offensive language. We want it out of movies or, at the very least, given an "R" rating on films with tobacco use. Tobacco use is shown on youth- driven MTV reality shows like Laguna Beach and Real World/Road Rules.  We want MTV to remove tobacco use from its regular programming and refuse to show music videos with excessive tobacco use.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
Take a stand and let your voice be heard against the glamorization of tobacco and:

• Write letters to artists and celebrities asking them to watch the content of their lyrics when it comes to glorifying smoking
• Write letters to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and MTV asking them to consider tobacco use in stronger movie ratings and taking tobacco out of programs and movies that reach you, the youth of Indiana    
• Sign the petition to the entertainment industry
• Tell your friends, family and community about tobacco glamorization in the entertainment industry and start your own petition

TAKE ACTION!

Have your say against tobacco glamorization.

Dont Glam Tobacco: Print Friendly Version
If you choose to complete, print and mail the petition, please send to: 8425 Woodfield Crossing Boulevard, Suite 200 West, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Attention: Voice Petition