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By Ricardo Lopez
VIRGINIA BEACH
Without the signature in-your-face tactics of its TV commercials, the anti-smoking Truth campaign teamed up with the Vans Warped Tour at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater on Wednesday.
Instead, campaign members used games such as Truth Says, a variation on Simon Says, to try to educate teens on the dangers of smoking.
It worked. Of the many booths nearby, the Truth truck attracted the largest number of people, and at some points, garnered more attention than some of the bands.
According to the American Legacy Foundation, 22 percent of Virginia youths between ages 12 and 17 smoke cigarettes.
"We don't try to shove our message down people's throats," said Kimberly Broderick, 25, a crew member from Los Angeles. "We just want to inform this core demographic about smoking so they can make informed decisions."
"We don't hate smokers; we hate big tobacco companies," campaign member Tahir Moore told about 20 teens as a couple hecklers smoked nearby.
One smoker earned a swift reproach from the disc jockey inside the Truth truck.
"Think you're being original?" the DJ asked him as he slinked away.
"We try to talk to smokers and give them information, too," Broderick said. "If they come up, we'll ask them to put down their cigarette."
Moore's booming voice sounded over the speakers near the truck as he led groups in games testing participants' music trivia knowledge.
Game winners fished for T-shirts with tobacco facts printed inside the collars.
Lisa Davis and Alicia Forehand, both 18, stood side by side as they watched a game of Truth Says.
They drove from Smithfield to see bands 3OH!3 and Devil Wears Prada. Their bared midriffs had been spray-painted with the orange Truth logo.
"It's temporary," Davis said of her new tattoo.
Ricardo Lopez, (757) 222-5125, ricardo.lopez@pilotonline.com
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thanks
I had some angst that my son was going to the warped tour but felt a little bit more relaxed knowing he would stumble upon the truth van and learn something important.
Ahh the good old days
When I was a kid smoking was still in style. All the "cool" kids smoked. Today when I see kids smoke it just looks stupid, not cool. It is no longer original or new. Smoking is fast becoming socially unacceptable. I especially have to laugh when I see them smoking in their cars with all the windows open and the cigarette held way out the window. It seems to say I don't want this in my car, my lungs, that's OK. It's just that stupid.
Prices
They should have had a booth for the Truth on Amphitheater food and beverage prices, that place is the biggest ripoff in the world!