Ratings standards for American films have stirred no small amount of controversy. There is one more problem in Hollywood to be fought about, as if the fighting between directors, studios and also the MPAA ratings board wasn’t enough when depicted in the 2006 documentary, This Movie is Not Yet Rated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made its stance by saying all movies with smoking in them shouldn’t be seen by young teens and kids, therefore giving the movies an “R” rating.
Paying for product placement is illegal
The CDC study indicates that although tobacco companies were banned in 1998 from being able to pay to place their products in films, there’s nevertheless more smoking in films today than there was at that time. Numerous studies cited by the CDC suggest that children and young teens do respond to smoking seen in films; they’re more likely to try smoking, versus adolescents who see little of it. Public health officials have reported concern over the potential for future health problems. The suggestion that there be less smoking in movies happened because of the amount of smoking in G, PG and PG-13 films.
Quit young smoking habits other ways
In addition to the R rating suggestion, other ideas given by the CDC are to air anti-smoking ads onscreen before the start of a film and to specify in film credits that no person or business associated with the movie received financial compensation from the tobacco industry or any associated business. The World Health Organization has already made these suggestions that the CDC appears to be saying no this time around about R rated movies. Smoking scenes are irresponsible in movies. WHO thinks this marketing towards kids is inappropriate.
Smoking should be stopped since it costs too much
Now it seems smoking will always be costly. It always costs more than it did last time. MSN Money explains another fact to add to anti-smoking. By age 70, one who has smoked but quits at age 40 and instead puts that money that came from cigarettes, higher health insurance and dry cleaning from stains towards a 401 (k) would have more than $ 250,000 saved. Choosing black lung over a comfortable retirement is enough to send anyone’s spending budget scrambling for pay day loan and short term loan to fill the gaps. Buying to the expense of smoking is an R rated horror film if ever there was one.
Further reading
Center for Disease Control
cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5932a2.htm
MSN Money
articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourHealth/HighCostOfSmoking.aspx
Time Magazine
wellness.blogs.time.com/2010/08/19/rated-r-for-smoking/
World Health Organization
who.int/tobacco/smoke_free_movies/en/
Fox News report on removing cigarettes from movies
youtube.com/watch?v=FSxwPVUv7vY
