C’mon, movie people, be responsible!

With a new national survey indicating that the vast majority of American adults not only feel that children are more likely to smoke when they see actors do so on screen, but also think something should be done about it, the American Medical Association initiated the Screen Out movement last week, a campaign to reduce children's exposure to tobacco imagery in films. They are asking the movie industry to put an R rating on any film containing tobacco products.

"Studies show every day about 4,000 children start smoking, and many are influenced by movie stars who light up onscreen," says Dr. Cecil Wilson, board chair for the AMA. "We're not calling for censorship; we're just asking the entertainment industry to voluntarily make changes, to be socially responsible."

We couldn't agree more. In fact, there are a few other health hazards well-established in our society that we'd also like to see reserved for R-rated films.

1. Trans fats. (Because after smoking, obesity is the leading cause of preventable death in America, according to the national Centers for Disease Control.)

2. Talking on the phone while driving. (Because automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for teens.)

3. Jack Nicholson's man boobs. (Because suicide is the third leading cause of death among Americans 15-24 and sixth for those 5-14.)

4. Black on black violence. (Because enough is enough.)

5. Any innuendo of fornication, including premarital groping and wet kisses. (AIDS, teen pregnancies, single moms, the moral decay of our society ...)