Various e-cigarette products
Various e-cigarette productsReuters

A group of US senators have criticized Golden Globes for showing celebrities puffing on electronic cigarettes at this year's awards show on 12 January, complaining that such practices 'glamorize' smoking.

"The Golden Globes celebrates entertainers who are an influence on young fans," four Democratic senators wrote on Tuesday. "We ask the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and NBC Universal to take actions to ensure that future broadcasts of the Golden Globes do not intentionally feature images of e-cigarettes".

The letter that was signed by Dick Durbin of Illinois, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Edward Markey of Massachusetts further stated: "Such actions would help to avoid the glamorization of smoking and protect the health of young fans," the Reuters reported.

The 71st Golden Globe Awards, which was aired live by NBC on Sunday, showed actor Leonardo DiCaprio smoking an e-cigarette. Award nominee Julia Louis-Dreyfus was also seen puffing on one, as part of an opening skit.

E-cigarettes are metal tubes, simulating real cigarettes and powered by batteries, that turn nicotine-laced liquid into vapor. It has been used as a measure to quit smoking though regulators are worried if the product will instead prove to be a 'gateway' to nicotine addiction.

The Golden Globes, which honour achievement in film and television, are taken care of by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

12 Years a Slave, American Hustle, Dallas Buyers Club, Breaking Bad and Brooklyn Nine-Nine were among the big winners this year.