Smoking in Movies — Bad Influence for kids?
Why do all the “cool” characters in movies smoke cigarettes? Can smoking actually make female characters more attractive on the big screen?
The World Health Organization is attempting to answer those questions as well as recommend that theaters slap adult ratings on movies with scenes that depict smoking, an approach that some anti-tobacco advocates believe could deter kids from indulging in tobacco.
However, not everyone believes that controlling who is able to get into a movie theater will sway how likely kids will become smokers. Simon Chapman, a public health professor at the Unviersity of Sydney in Australia said, “Movies showing smoking might have a lot more in them that might appeal to youth at risk of smoking than just smoking.”
According to estimates published by the World Health Organization, 390,000 American youngsters smoke because of what they see onscreen and that imposing adult ratings on films that include actors smoking would likely prevent 200,000 youngsters from becoming smokers.
Do you agree or disagree with the World Health Organization?
Tags: adult rating for movies with cigarettes, entertainment influence on children, government subsidies, health, influence of smoking in movies, movies, news, power of cigarettes, smoking in movies, tobacco, World Health Organization
Bullshit. Both my parents smoked throughout my entire childhood. What I watched on TV was not restricted, therefore I watched movies with smoking and drugs quite often. I have absolutely no desire to ever start smoking. If anything, growing up with it has forever turned me off of the idea.