Ban funding on films portraying smoking

Victorian doctors want a ban on taxpayers' money being used to fund films or plays that portray smoking.

The Victorian branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) says governments should not be helping to promote cigarettes.

Spokesman Dr Doug Travis says more than 19,000 Australians die each year from smoking related diseases.

He says governments should do all they can to discourage smoking.

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I think I will support this idea. Films have significant impact towards culture and we need to do as much as we can to reduce the prevalence of smokers around the world. Many teenagers and adults idolize actors and actresses and perceive them as a role model.

Although it may seems to be too strict, but the long term effect of smoking need to be considered. It is the largest preventable risk factors for stroke, ischaemic heart disease , lung cancer and various other diseases.

If we can reduce the number of smokers, I believe that in the future, the cost of treating smoking-related disease will be significantly reduced.

Related link: Smoking tobacco is deadly...