Chart stars front EU anti-smoking campaign

Chart stars Sophie Ellis Bextor and Moby are heading a Europe wide campaign to stop youngsters from smoking.

In introducing the new TV adverts, EU Health Commissioner David Byrne said today he hoped they would convince Europe’s youth to ”feel free to say no” to cigarettes.

“Tobacco multinationals are targeting our kids,” Byrne said in Brussels. “It is well known that eight out of ten people who smoke start when they are between 12 and 18 years old. Once they are hooked on nicotine, these people no longer have a choice.”

The ads which will be shown on MTV Europe as well as on national TV networks, and will also be shown in 5,000 cinemas featuring Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Byrne said some 15 pop groups or artists are taking part in the “feel free to say no” campaign, which has stars like Britain’s Sophie Ellis Bextor who says “tobacco kills, don’t be fooled.”

Singing the title song Feel Free To Say No in the advert is Canadian boy-band B4-4, who will be releasing the single in January.

Byrne said the campaign coincides with a new EU proposal now being discussed that hopes to ban all tobacco advertising on TV, radio, in magazines and on the internet.