February 14, 2016
Matthis Morgenstern and colleagues just published “Did limits on payments for tobacco placements in US movies affect how movies are made?” in Tobacco Control. They answered the question “yes.”
Specifically, they found that there was a big drop in screen time devoted to smoking after the state attorneys general included smoking in movies in the Master Settlement Agreement between the states and the tobacco companies. (It is important to keep in mind that Hollywood is not a party to the MSA, so its strictures do not apply directly to the studios.)
This evidence also supports the view that smoking in movies is commercial speech rather than artistic speech. As they note, “an abrupt drop in movie brand placements and amount of screen time devoted to smoking depictions in Hollywood movies coincided with the implementation of externally enforced restrictions on paid cigarette product placement in movies by State Attorneys General. Given that such a large share of the smoking depicted may have been commercial in nature, the smoking scene (or any other scene with product placement elements) should be interpreted and regulated as if it is commercial, not artistic speech.”
February 14, 2016
While Hillary and Bernie are working hard to distinguish themselves from each other – and there are legitimate differences – the reality is that they agree way more than they disagree, especially when comparing their positions to the Republican candidates.
Bernie and Hillary have both also behaved reasonably well towards each other and avoided the kind of nasty and divisive language that have characterized the Republican debates. This is very important for keeping Democratic voters engaged, which will be very important in the general election. The worst thing that could happen for those of us who support a progressive agenda would be for the Democratic primary fight to turn nasty and leave supporters of one or the other candidates angry and bitter so that they stay home this November.
Equally important, as I listen to the two of them I see complementary strengths and weaknesses. Hillary has an exceptional body of experience, most recently in the area of foreign affairs, which is one of Bernie’s weaknesses. Bernie is much more believable when he says that he will work implement tax and regulatory policies that will reign in Wall Street and take real steps to address income inequality.
Hillary and Bernie could avoid the first problem and turn the second into an opportunity by pledging now to run as a ticket.
February 11, 2016
When President Obama announced his new "War on Cancer" I decided it would be worth a blog post commenting on how the fastest, most cost-effective way to reduce cancer would be to reduce smoking.
After all, we know how to do it. All it takes is political will.
Before I had a chance to draft such a post Allan Erickson, who led tobacco control efforts at the American Cancer Society until he retired, sent me this letter, which makes all the points I would have made.
It is worth a read.
BEGINNING THE END OF TOBACCO USE
February 6, 2016
Joe Biden, Vice President, United States of America
Dear Mr. Vice President:
We commend you on your important new assignment to lead the revitalized ‘War on Cancer’ as President Obama announced in his State-of-the-Union speech. We are aware that the organization and planning for this major effort are well underway, and we hear the thrust of the so-called ‘War’ is to be focused on research, early detection and treatment of cancer.
February 8, 2016
Eric Crosbie, Patricia Sosa, and I just published "The importance of continued engagement during the implementation phase of tobacco control policies in a middle-income country: the case of Costa Rica" in Tobacco Control.
February 3, 2016
Guild awards ceremony, the American Lung Association publicly criticized him, which was reported by the celebrity website TMZ, the Dolby Theater where the Oscars are held announced that their ceremony would be smokefree, including e-cigarettes. (Full story here and here.)
There is still no official confirmation from the Academy itself.
Let's hope that this decision to stop promoting tobacco at the Oscar ceremony is foreshadowing a more substantial institutions response from Hollywood to stop promoting smoking by implementing an R rating for smoking movies.