James Bond Caught Smoking

London’s Sunday Times announced that for the first time since taking over the role of James Bond, Pierce Brosnan will be seen smoking a cigar in the film Die Another Day – and some people are smokin’ mad. The reason behind Bond’s cigar smoking in this latest film is because it is set in Cuba, reportedly home of the world’s best cigars. Anti-smoking types are angry because they say smoking is "glamorized" in movies. The director of media relations for the American Lung Association, Michelle Sawatka, was quoted as saying, "The American Lung Association is very concerned that tobacco use is too often glamorized in movies. We are particularly concerned that the positive depiction of tobacco use encourages children and youth to smoke. When they see their big-screen heroes smoking, they may try to imitate that behavior."

In the Bond novels by Ian Fleming, 007 was a drinker and a smoker – enjoying some 60 cigarettes a day. The first Bond movie, Dr. No, shows Sean Connery’s Bond lighting up. And each Bond since – George Lazenby, Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton – has enjoyed cigarettes or cigars. Brosnan was the first to make a "conscious effort" to not be seen smoking on the big screen, although you can catch a glimpse of him holding a cigarette in Tomorrow Never Dies from 1997. In 1999 there was a big to do about Bond going "nicotine free" - no word on whether or not he used the patch, hypnosis or the gum. In 99’s The World is Not Enough Bond is seated in a non-smoking section of a restaurant. Also, his BMW has a sign that asks passengers not to smoke.

Ok, seriously…if smoking is going to be a problem, how about random sex, reckless driving, and alcohol abuse (shaken not stirred). Maybe for the next installment of the 007 role they could hire Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe to play Bond…he isn’t old enough to drink or smoke, he is a virgin and the only reckless driving he does is on his Quidditch stick.