Up In Smoke

Disney did something right last week. They decided to ban cigarette smoking from all Disney movies. They've yet to extend the ban, however, to include more adult-oriented (meaning, of course, teen-oriented) films coming from their Buena Vista and Miramax divisions.

Why not? And why aren't other movie studios following suit?

The good news is that fewer teens are smoking today than were when many of their parents graduated from high school. In 1976, two of five high-school seniors were endangering their lives on a regular basis in more ways than anyone can count. Today, it's only one in five. Only.

The bad news today is that all you have to do is go online — if not to your local convenience store — to buy cigarettes if you're underage. Internet sales of cigarettes are climbing, now counting for at least 15 percent of overall sales. And most studies have found that there is virtually no effort to make sure that those sales are to adults.

Of course, companies could insist that someone over 18 sign for the package, or else require that it be returned to them. But why would they? They're looking to make money, and cigarette companies have to replace all the people who die from tobacco-related illnesses every day if they're to stay in business. As for law enforcement, when was the last time you heard of a convenience store or gas station being closed down because they sold cigarettes to minors? Just close a few and the message will get out. But no one does.

Most states have made it easier for tobacco companies to find, hook and kill new smokers. Rather than spend the money they collect from cigarette taxes, much less the money they received from the record-breaking settlements in the tobacco class actions, on smoking prevention or research to cure the diseases smoking causes, they use most of it to balance their general budgets.

When my best friend was dying of lung cancer, I ranted and raved about the money going to fill potholes and build bridges instead of to save lives.

Lung cancer research was and is under-funded, given the number of people who die of it, due to the incorrect impression that only smokers get it. In fact, my friend never smoked a cigarette in her life. But what if she had? What logic is there in expressing our disapproval of smoking by making it more likely that smokers will die, along with those nonsmokers unfortunate enough to get the same diseases? Why not, rather, try to both prevent and cure the ravages of smoking?

If there were one thing about my teenage years I could change, it would be lighting up that second cigarette. The first one doesn't hook you — put smoke into clean lungs and you'll feel the way you do when you take your first sip of scotch. Revolted. The first cigarette makes you choke and cough. No, smoking is an acquired taste. You have to be determined. And once you are, stopping is much harder than starting.

I went through eight false starts at stopping before I quit for the last time, 20 years ago. Even so, I lie in terror every five years when they turn on the CT machine to screen my lungs, because I'll always be at increased risk for lung cancer, and I know its ravages too well.

So why do one in five teenagers still do it? Why do thousands of kids start every day? For the same reasons I did. Because they want to lose weight, fit in, look grownup, be cool.

At the recent Harry Potter opening at my local bookstore, a gaggle of teenage girls stood in front of the store smoking. Clearly, they thought they were cool. Finally, one mother spoke up and told them to clear out. They put their cigarettes out. We all need to do that.

Teenagers think they're immortal. Movie studios are run by people who know better. They should act that way.

To find out more about Susan Estrich and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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