ABOUT
About Smoke Free Movies
The Ontario Coalition for Smoke-Free Movies brings together concerned health organizations and over 40 endorsing organizations who aim to raise awareness about the impact that smoking in movies has on youth smoking.
A rating change is needed in Ontario. Health organizations internationally, including the Surgeon General, have drawn a causal link between smoking that is seen on screen and youth smoking initiation and support actions (take action page link) recommended by the World Health Organization. Specifically the recommendation that a change be made to the rating system to ensure that any future movies released in Ontario rated for children and teens (G, PG, 14A) are free from smoking images and tobacco products.
History
The Ontario Coalition for Smoke-Free Movies (OCSFM) officially launched on May 31, 2011 with a press event at the Ontario Lung Association after many years of local Public Health Unit’s units and other non-governmental organizations working on this topic. The topic of addressing smoking in movies was born out response to WHO Report released in 2009 in addition to the release of the Tobacco Vector report in 2010 by Physicians for Smoke Free Canada the Smoking in Health Action Foundation (SHAF) hosted a forum in 2010. The forum participants determined that collective action was needed, and thus the Ontario Coalition for Smoke Free Movies was formed. From 2010-2011 organizations began submitting letters of endorsements, to date over 50 organizations have endorsed the Coalition and the associated WHO policy actions
ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS
Become a Member
Please contact the Coalition co-chairs if you would like to become a member.
Andrea Kita
Central West Tobacco Control Area Network
andrea.kita@hamilton.ca
Donna Kosmack
Middlesex-London Health Unit
Donna.Kosmack@mlhu.on.ca