Entertainers Asked To Aid Against Smoking

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31502, 17 October 1967, Page 17

Entertainers Asked To Aid Against Smoking

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) NEW YORK, Oct. 16. The entire entertainment industry including Hollywood, the stage and television has been called upon to “launch an intensive campaign to de-glam-ourise cigarette-smok-ing,” the “New York Times” News Service reports.

The call from yesterday from Dr Donald T. Frederickson, head of New York's cigarette-smoking control programme, who conceded that

most other efforts to control the habit had not been successful.

“I am impressed with the creativity of the entertainment industry,” Dr Frederickson said, “and I believe it has the opportunity to succeed where no other group has in turning the tide that might result in a complete reversal of the social acceptability of cigarette-smoking.” Dr. Frederickson also said that while he favoured a complete ban on cigarette advertising he felt this was impossible because of the power of the cigarette industry which, he said, had gained “an incredible control of the mass media.” But he said “realistic” atwere being made to

counteract the advertising. One of these he noted was a letter written last week by Dr Edward O’Rourke, New York’s Health Commissioner, to the transit authority, asking for “substantial amounts of space for public service announcements.”

Dr Frederickson, who gave his views on the WCBS-TV “Newsmakers” programme and in an Interview, said that there was “no question that smoking constitutes the leading public health problem of our time.” If the entertainment industry could succeed in changing the acceptability of cigarette smoking, he said, “this would stand as one of the major achievements for public healtti in 200 years.” 1