Smoking in movies is influencing our youth

NEWMARKET – The Regional Municipality of York Public Health branch is hosting the 3rd Annual Smoke-Free Movie Night.  Smoke-Free Movie Nights aim to raise awareness about tobacco advertising in movies through product placement and use.   

 

Youth are especially influenced by images their favourite actors portray.  Research shows that exposure to tobacco use in movies can more than triple the rate of smoking among adolescents and accounts for 52 per cent of those who start smoking.

 

What:  
A free interactive display will provide movie goers with a first-hand look at the negative effects of   tobacco use.  Interested youth can sign a petition requesting the elimination of tobacco use by    actors in G, PG and PG-13 rated movies. 

 

When:   
Friday, April 25th
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

 

Where:  
The Gem Movie Theatre
11 Church Street
Town of Georgina

 

Who:     
-Peer leaders from York Region’s Youth Action Alliance (York YEL!T) program
-Town of Georgina moviegoers
-York Region staff

 

York Region’s Youth Action Alliance (York YEL!T) program aims to prevent and reduce smoking in youth by
engaging them as participants in the development and execution of community campaigns.  Youth Action Alliances are meant to be the cornerstone of community-based youth tobacco control programs in Ontario.  These peer leadership programs funded through Smoke-Free Ontario engage youth in local action campaigns to prevent smoking, encourage quit attempts, reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and increase awareness of tobacco issues in local communities across the province.

 

For more information on this or any other health-related topic, please contact York Region Health Connection at
1-800-361-5653.

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Media Contact: Jennifer Mitchell-Emmerson, Community and Health Services, York Region
 Phone:  905 830-4444, ext. 4016 or After-hours Cell 905 716-2717
 Email: jennifer.mitchellemmerson@york.ca