The British Lung Foundation posted a new video on its website this week.
It's called Smoking in cars - teen video and it features actors Neil Fitzmaurice from Peep Show and Hollyoaks’ Jazmine Franks playing a father and his teenage daughter.
Fitzmaurice's character tries – without success – to light a cigarette in his car. Franks, dressed as a schoolgirl, then jumps in the back and says, angrily:
"Dad, will you please stop smoking in the car. Ma mates says I stink of ciggies. You wouldn't smoke in the house."
The film cuts backs to Fitzmaurice who is still attempting, and failing, to light a cigarette with the use of a dud lighter that he eventually shakes with frustration.
Despite this Franks begins to cough furiously. We then see her wearing a gas mask and shrieking, "Dad, why won't you listen to me?!"
A voiceover tells us that "More than 430,000 children are exposed to second-hand smoke in family cars at least once a week". Naturally there is no source for this highly dubious estimate, nor is there a link to the relevant 'research'.
Viewers are then asked, 'Do you want to ban smoking in cars with children?' and invited to vote 'Yes' or 'No'. (If you have time I urge you to vote No.)
Meanwhile I have just Googled 'How old is Jazmine Franks?'. Apparently she was 21 this year, so not a teenager at all.
I was also tempted to Google 'Smoking in cars teen video'. On reflection, that might be a bad idea. Goodness knows what I'll find.