Tobacco's reappearance in advertising, films and TV shows may seduce a new generation into its clutches – or maybe not

Opinion piece by Lori Anderson

What first attracted me to the multi-millionaire, Franco-Swiss financier and philanthropist Arpad Busson? It wasn't his acute financial acumen, the fantasy of a life with a raffish demi-aristocrat on the Cote d'Azur, nor even the size of his hedge fund, but something more rebellious – it was the lit fuse that dangled so insouciantly between his thin lips.

Elle Macpherson's ex and Uma Thurman's on-off fiancé appears in the latest Harper's Bazaar in a photograph that simply reeks of animal magnetism, all because of the addition of a single prop: a lit cigarette.

Curiously, another previously ungainly figure has been transformed behind a veil of smoke. In last week's copy of ShortList magazine, portly comic actor James Corden, was similarly transformed into a far steelier and edgier character, again via the touch of La Diva Nicotina.

In reality, I can barely hold a conversation with a smoker, let alone drift off into a reverie of cocktails, romance and Egyptian cotton sheets. I find the breath of a smoker to be as tolerable as that of a salivating British bulldog. But the image still has a certain bewitching glamour, which movies, television and magazines are re-igniting.

Why does the cigarette, which brings with it such an ugly retinue, including halitosis, peri-oral lines, collagen degradation and, of course, the dark spectres of oral and lung cancer, still look so damn sexy? Well, one only has to watch a single episode of Mad Men, BBC4's hit series set in the 1960s world of advertising executives, with their tight suits, black-rimmed glasses and two fingers of Scotch at noon all enveloped by the billowing fog of cigarette smoke, to feel oneself mentally reaching for a gold-crested pack of Sobranie Black Russian.

It is a trend noted by John Davidson, brand consultant, stylist and writer. "It is a bit of a fad at the moment as fashion is so hugely influenced by Mad Men, Tom Ford's A Single Man, and Nine – three productions set in the early 1960s and all shot through swirling curlicues of cigarette smoke.

"There's so much about the aesthetics of that era (especially America in that era) that seems incredibly compelling, especially now that we're so bored with and exhausted by references to the 1980s. And the fog of cigarette smoke is certainly a big factor in capturing that period. But I don't think it encourages people to believe that smoking is cool or sexy, let alone something that we all ought to be doing more of – it registers as a strange thing that people used to do, much like the hideous bullying and rampant sexism that characterises the goings-on at Sterling Cooper (the ad agency in Mad Men].

"Smoking has often added a powerful allure to movie and fashion imagery. One of my all-time favourite photographs is the iconic Helmut Newton still of an androgynous model in YSL's le smoking – a lit cigarette held between her thumb and forefinger. It's an incredibly powerful, sexy, provocative image. Millions of women might want to emulate this vision of nonchalant glamour, and it's not an image that could be used by the anti-smoking lobby – but I very much doubt it ever inspired anyone to light up."

The tragic fact, however, is that cigarette manufacturers have proven themselves adept at capturing the hearts and soon-to-be-blackened lungs of millions of men and women through the power of a simple image. In the 1920s, when tobacco barons were concerned that only men were picking up the habit, thus depriving them of half the market, they organised photographs of suffragettes smoking what were described as "torches of freedom". Smoking was immediately wrapped up with the image of rebellion. It was an idea furthered by James Dean in his portrayal of definitive teen angst in Rebel Without A Cause, whose poster saw the star cradling a lit cigarette, making them an obligatory accessory for disaffected youth everywhere.

Of course, it is hard to rebel when a behaviour has been adopted by the masses. The irony is that our aggressively no-smoking culture could be the petri dish for a new generation of rebels. Certainly Ash Scotland, the anti-smoking charity, is concerned about the new vogue for images of celebrity smokers and the negative effect they could have on the younger generation.

"Sadly the image of celebrities or 'cool' models smoking is often one that is very attractive to young people who aspire to be like these icons," said Sheila Duffy, the charity's chief executive.

She added: "A lot of work is done trying to prevent young people from smoking and educating them in the harm caused by smoking so such images are very unhelpful.

"Both prevention and available and accessible stop-smoking support are essential if smoking is to be tackled in Scotland. After all tobacco is a uniquely dangerous product. There is no other product sold in our shops which if used as directed can kill you.

"Fifteen thousand young people in Scotland take up smoking every year. There are many social and cultural reasons. Teenage smoking has often been seen as cool or a rite of passage, but over the past few years there has been a cultural shift. We now are not only seeing fewer teenage smokers, but also more active involvement in youth-led prevention projects such as peer education and youth advocacy.

"They are raising awareness about smoking and the harm caused by tobacco to their peers and others and this is set to increase in the decade ahead. Without tobacco, our young people have a much brighter future ahead of them."

Although cigarettes still exude an edgy glamour, especially when pressed between the pursed lips of a skinny model, we only have to look at one of their loyal disciples, Kate Moss, to see how she has aged beyond her non-smoking peers.

The damage smoking does is seen every day by Dr Darren McKeown, one of Scotland's leading aesthetic medical practitioners, with clinics in Glasgow and Harley Street.

"It used to be very fashionable to smoke but I think those days are well and truly over. Beautiful young models and handsome icons were often photographed taking long sultry draws from cigarettes, but the reality was that if they carried on smoking then they didn't stay looking young and beautiful for very long. A common misconception is that the only effect cigarette smoke has on the skin are the fine lines above the lip, the so called 'smokers lines'. In fact, the damage to the skin is much more extensive. Chemicals inhaled in cigarette smoke stimulate an enzyme which breaks down collagen, prematurely ageing the skin all over the body with deeper lines and wrinkles across the entire face, not just the top lip.

"What makes matters worse is that smokers also tend to be thinner with less subcutaneous fat on the face. As we get older we rely on a healthy layer of fat to keep the face looking youthful and plump and when this is lost the face looks old and gaunt. Couple this with the poor skin quality and it is easy to understand why smokers in their early thirties can often look well into their forties.

"It is my job to help men and women maintain their looks as they get older although there is only so much I can do. If people want to look the best they possibly can then they need to work with me, leading a healthy lifestyle and particularly avoiding cigarettes."

There are attempts to eradicate the image of the smouldering cigarette, or at least elevate it to the top shelf out of the reach of smaller hands.

Anti-smoking lobbyists would like to see all films which feature smoking slapped with an 18 certificate, but even if they are successful the beguiling glamour that confronts the reader with the flick of a magazine page may still remain.

Smoking: the facts

[...]

Source: The Scotsman - 11 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/djBKYz

Jailed Chorley former landlord walks free

Smoke ban rebel Nick Hogan speaks out after being freed from prison after a campaign raised £9,000.

The 43-year-old publican, whose family runs the Swan With Two Necks in Hollinshead Street, was sentenced to six months and jailed after a hearing at Bolton Magistrates Court on February 26. The sentence stemmed from non-payment of fines he received for breaching the smoking ban in 2008.

He was initially fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £7,136 in costs, but appealed the conviction and lost so an extra £1,000 was added to the costs.

He repeatedly failed to pay fines and has been brought before the courts on at least 12 occasions, according to an official at Bolton Magistrates' Court.

Now, online support group has raised more than £9,000 to secure Hogan's release less than two weeks after the conviction.

Speaking outside Forest Bank prison in Salford, Hogan, 43, who is UKIP national spokesman for licensing and night-time economy, said: "I was devastated to be sent to jail. The smoking ban has cost me my pub, my job and my liberty.

"I'd like to thank everyone who donated money to get me out of jail, and all the well-wishers who sent me cards and letters while I was behind bars. I can't thank them enough.

"It's wonderful to know that so many people feel as strongly as I do about the smoking ban and its impact on ordinary working people."

The campaign to pay Hogan's fines was launched by renowned blogger Anna Raccoon with the help of fellow libertarian blogger Old Holborn who set up an account so people could donate online.

Within 36 hours over £5,000 had been raised. A further £1,200 was donated over the next two days before the campaign received a crucial helping hand from Britain's most popular political blogger, Guido Fawkes, who publicised it on his widely read and influential site.

By the end of last week donations totalled more than £9,000, enough to pay Hogan's debts.

A host of libertarian bloggers publicised the campaign, which was also backed by the smokers' lobby group Forest. A Facebook group, 'Justice for Nick Hogan', attracted over one thousand supporters and had planned a protest outside Forest Bank prison where Hogan is serving his sentence on 13 March.

Phil Johnson,who set up the group on Facebook, has posted a letter online to PM Gordon Brown, saying: "Nick Hogan has merely stood up for his rights as a businessman and the dignity and rights of his fellow man by allowing them to smoke in his pub. (The) system has now created a criminal, who now has a prison record for doing what any sane and sensible businessman would do - look after his customers."

[...]

Source: Chorley Guardian - 10 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/bi6DKY and http://bit.ly/9z9a7W

Years of smoking associated with lower Parkinson's risk, not number of cigarettes per day

Researchers have new insight into the relationship between Parkinson's disease and smoking. Several studies have shown that smokers have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease. A new study published in the March 10, 2010, online issue of Neurology ®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, shows that smoking for a greater number of years may reduce the risk of the disease, but smoking a larger number of cigarettes per day may not reduce the risk.

"These results could guide the development of studies on various tobacco components with animal models to help understand the relationship between smoking and Parkinson's disease," said study author Honglei Chen, MD, PhD, of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C. "Research to reveal the underlying chemicals and mechanisms is warranted; such studies may lead to a better understanding of the causes of Parkinson's disease. However, given the many adverse consequences of smoking, no one would suggest smoking in order to prevent Parkinson's disease."

The study involved 305,468 AARP members age 50 to 71 who completed a survey on diet and lifestyle at the time and again about 10 years later. During that time, 1,662 of the people had developed Parkinson's disease, or about one-half of one percent.

Current smokers were 44 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than people who had never smoked. People who had smoked in the past and quit were 22 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's than people who had never smoked.

People who smoked for 40 or more years were 46 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than people who never smoked. Those who smoked for 30 to 39 years were 35 percent less likely to have the disease than nonsmokers. In contrast, those who smoked for one to nine years were only eight percent less likely to get the disease.

The risk of developing Parkinson's disease did not change based on how many cigarettes a person smoked per day.

Chen noted that studies have shown that smoking is not associated with a slower progression of the disease once Parkinson's develops or a reduced risk of death, so he said there is no evidence to support the use of nicotine or other smoking-related chemicals in treating the disease.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Cancer Institute.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 22,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Parkinson's disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), dementia, West Nile virus, and ataxia.

Source: Medical News Today - 11 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/aATVSg

USA: Vt. court rules 'reduced risk' cigarette ads false

A Vermont court has ruled that tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds engaged in deceptive and misleading advertising in promoting its Eclipse brand of "reduced risk" cigarettes from 2000 to 2007.

Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell's office successfully argued that the tobacco company's claims that Eclipse might carry less risk of cancer and other diseases than other cigarettes were not backed up by sufficient scientific evidence.

In a statement, Reynolds pointed to the judge saying the company had acted in good faith, and made "considerable effort to develop and sell a tobacco product which might potentially do some good for some smokers."

Cheryl Healton of the anti-smoking group Legacy says she expects the Vermont ruling will set a precedent for similar court decisions in other states.

Source: Boston.com - 11 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/bFnXx8

Pattinson 'trying to hide smoking habit'

Robert Pattinson [lead actor in the teenage vampire film series, Twilight - The third installment of which, Eclipse, is about to be released in cinemas] is a secret smoker who has been trying to hide his habit, according to tabloid reports.

The 23-year-old actor has been photographed enjoying cigarettes on the set of his new movie Bel Ami, The Sun reports.

"Robert tried to make sure his security shielded him from lurking photographers. But a snap has appeared in America," a source is quoted as saying. "Robert's since admitted he's been scared about his mum finding out."

Pattinson recently claimed that he used to be rebellious when he was younger.

Source: Digital Spy - 10 March 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/c3KNyL