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Date: Tuesday, July 30, 1996 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Damon Thompson (202)205-1842
The Clinton administration is taking its battle against underage smoking into cyberspace, armed with a free-poster giveaway featuring the gold medal-contending U.S. Women's Soccer Team.
The Department of Health and Human Services has launched its first-ever electronic public service announcement (E-PSA) which features the soccer stars as part of its "Smoke-Free Kids" campaign. People who log on to the E-PSA at HHS" web site will be mailed a free poster of the soccer team just for taking part in an educational quiz about smoking and other forms of tobacco use.
"We're combining our hottest new technology with one of our hottest youth sports to reach kids with the message that nobody should take up smoking," said HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala. "If we use a medium they know and role models they understand, we can get across a message they truly need to hear."
The women's soccer team, which finished second in the Women's World Cup finals last year, will play China for the gold medal on Thursday at the Olympic Games. The team has been a highly visible part of the HHS' anti-smoking campaign which, through the airwaves, posters and brochures, encourages kids to "smoke a defender" instead of a cigarette.
HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Philip R. Lee, M.D., said it was important to reach a young audience with the anti-smoking message. "Nearly 3,000 teenagers become regular smokers every day, and 1,000 of them will eventually die because of tobacco-related causes," he said.
People wishing to log onto the E-PSA and receive a poster should point their Web browser to the HHS home page at www.hhs.gov. The poster give-away offer will only be good as long as supplies remain available.