Task Force moves forward with resolution for smoke-free movies without Town Board support
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

The Amherst Task Force for Healthy Community * Healthy Youth has responded to the Amherst Town Board's vote to not support the "smoke free movies" resolution.

(See editorial on page four)

On Feb. 26 the board voted down a resolution sponsored by Supervisor Satish Mohan that would request the movie industry to review how it portrays smoking in films.

Anne Rohrer, coalition coordinator for the Task Force, said the resolution was not clearly explained during the meeting.

"We don't think this is foolish at all," she said. "Many other groups are supporting this. We should endorse the health of our youth."

She added that facts support the Task Force's issue with smoking in movies, and the organization plans to continue to get the word out.

With 440,000 people dying from tobacco-related illnesses each year, the Task Force recognizes the serious risk to youths.

Rohrer said the group will continue to seek support from other organizations and boards, asking that films showing tobacco be rated "R" and that theaters show anti-smoking ads prior to a film viewing. It also asks that identification of tobacco brands be removed from scenes, such as on a billboard.

The Task Force cited many worldwide and medical associations that have supported the resolution for smoke-free movies.

Rohrer said the bottom line is smoking in movies has a huge impact on youth smoking, and the Task Force is trying to expose that fact.

In a decade, from 1988 to 1997, 32 percent of movies for adolescents and 20 percent for children, had tobacco brand product placement in them. Also, $11.22 billion is spent on marketing by tobacco companies each year.

For information, visit www.amherst.ny.us, keyword: Amherst Task Force or call 631-7215.