Stay Informed

Sign up for news & alerts

Already signed up?
Login here

take action
For every $1 states spend dollar sign on substance misuse and addiction, 94 cents go to shovel up the consequences instead of for treatment and prevention. TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS

What Can I Do?



Continuing Education
Free online courses for addiction counselors LEARN ONLINE

Get Help
Need alcohol or drug help for yourself or someone else? GET HELP

 

Controversial Anti-Smoking Ad Runs During Olympics
September 21, 2000

Share Share Email
Email
Print
Print
SubscribeSubscribe
News Summary

An anti-smoking ad that was rejected by all four major networks earlier this year is running during NBC's telecast of the Summer Olympics, the Associated Press reported Sept. 19.

The ad shows body bags being stacked outside a tobacco company office building to illustrate how many people die each day from tobacco use.

The commercial was created by the American Legacy Foundation, an organization formed and financed as part of the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement.

The ad drew criticism from Philip Morris because it was filmed at the cigarette giant's New York headquarters. The locale, however, is not mentioned in the commercial. The company also argued that the ad did not abide by the settlement agreement. Under the agreement, the money provided for anti-smoking ads could not be used to directly attack or vilify companies or individuals.

NBC spokeswoman Maria Battaglia said the network decided to run the ad because it had been changed to meet their concerns. "So far we have had no negative reaction to it and don't foresee any," she said.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

SUBMIT A COMMENT:

Note: Comments are now held for moderator approval. More info

Name:

Comment:
(limit 250
words)

Enter this word
(help):
Change

GUIDELINES: 
Please keep comments on-topic, courteous, clean, non-commercial, and within the word limit.
Read the complete guidelines