On Saturday, the Chenango Health Network hosted the first smoke-free movie night at the Colonia Theater. Prior to the movie showing, Drug Free Community Coordinator Kyli Osterhout presented a PowerPoint slide show based on drugs and alcohol and the effect it has on youth versus adults. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH – On Saturday, the Chenango Health Network hosted the first smoke-free movie night at the Colonia Theater. The event was free and open to the public.

The move night was an opportunity for the for the Tobacco and Drug Free Communities group to educate the public about Rate Smoking R campaign and the impact of drugs and alcohol in youth.

According to Reality Check of NY, the Rate Smoking R campaign is an initiative to keep youth-rated movies smoke free. In 2015, most major studios were smoke-free for all movies rated PG-13 and younger. "If the film industry simply kept it up, the CDC reports that we can prevent a million tobacco deaths in this generation."

"The film industry continues to allow tobacco imagery in youth rated films. Tobacco on screen is the single biggest media risk to children and teens," said Tobacco Free Coordinator Jessica Shull.