MYNORTHWEST NEWS

‘Suck on this’ T-shirt won’t stop kids in Pierce County from lighting up

Aug 13, 2013, 1:40 PM | Updated: 1:40 pm

Kids will wear the anti-smoking t-shirt because their parents are bothered by the lewd phrasing, according to John Curley. (Image courtesy Suck On This Facebook page)

(Image courtesy Suck On This Facebook page)

A mom panicked when two teenage boys came up to her daughters at the Pierce County Fair and gave them T-shirts with the phrase “suck on this.”

The words were lewd, the mom told KING 5. But the message was actually for an anti-smoking campaign. In small letters below the large “suck on this” message, the shirts said one hour of smoking hookah is the equivalent of 150 cigarettes.

Certainly the T-shirt draws attention, but KIRO Radio host John Curley admits that it does so because it’s offensive.

What it doesn’t do, is anything for the civil discourse surrounding smoking in our society. Kids will wear it, he said, because their parents are bothered by the lewd phrasing.

“If you’re some sort of radical kid, a James Dean, you would not only wear the T-shirt, you’d be smoking at the same,” said John.

So how do we get kids to stop smoking? We’re already on our way. John believes we just need to keep raising the price of cigarettes. Still, there is a ways to go. A pack of smokes in Washington costs over $8, but in New York you have to shell out over $14.

MyNorthwest News

nintendo redmond...

Frank Sumrall

Nintendo to lay off 86 Redmond employees this spring

Nintendo of America is laying off 86 contract workers in Redmond, beginning May 25, due to company reorganization.

32 minutes ago

Everett boy missing...

Frank Sumrall

4-year-old Everett boy missing, police worried he’s in danger

Police and Search and Rescue crews are looking for a missing four-year-old boy they suspect could be in danger.

2 hours ago

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

11 hours ago

Photo: The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center....

James Lynch

King County’s plan to close youth detention center met with fierce backlash

The King County Law and Justice Committee received a final report on Executive Dow Constantine's plan to close a youth detention center.

13 hours ago

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

15 hours ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

15 hours ago

‘Suck on this’ T-shirt won’t stop kids in Pierce County from lighting up