Anti-Smoking Ad Scandalizes France

Many French people are outraged over a new anti-smoking ad that equates smoking with forced oral sex. Cigarette use is on the rise among young French people: 8 percent of 14 year olds smoke daily, and a quarter of 18 year olds do. So the organization Droits des non-fumeurs (Non-smokers' rights) set out to "shock" youngsters into being scared of smokes. Mission accomplished! An ad features an older man pushing down the head of a fearful young girl with a cigarette—which appears to be emerging from his pants—in her mouth. Many are angry that the nearly pornographic image implies some guilt on behalf of sexual-abuse victims. The head of the feminist group La Meute des chiennes de garde (Pack of female watch dogs) said, "What is most shocking is the banalization of sexual violence." The head of an anti-smoking group said, "This will shock adults while not scaring kids." But the president of Droits des non-fumeurs defended the ad: "Young people are no longer afraid of the cigarette. Using sex is a way to get their attention. And if it's necessary to shock, let's shock."