Smoke-Free Movies

What should be done about smoking in the movies?

Movie Rating Solution

In Ontario, the Ontario Film Review Board classifies & rates movies on the following criteria: language, violence, nudity, sexual activity, horror, and psychological impact.  The guidelines for film classification are regularly reviewed and updated.

The rating substantially reduces the likelihood that a youth will see a movie.  If movies that featured tobacco depictions were given 18A rating, there would be less role modeling and normalization of tobacco use. 

An adult rating would allow movie makers the freedom to include smoking or other tobacco promotions if they felt it was necessary to tell the story — just as they now do with profane language, sex, and violence.

This year Walt Disney Company has already pledged to ban smoking in its family movies. 1

To find out more about smoking in the movies visit these sites:

• www.smokefreemovies.ucsf.edu
• www.ofrb.gov.on.ca/english/default.htm