The last frontier?
The World Heath Organisation has renewed its call for films that portray smoking to be given an 'adult' rating.
The WHO has been banging on about this for years so I suppose there's some comfort in the fact that no government has implemented the recommendation.
The British Board of Film Classification has also resisted the idea but I don't sense any strong ideological opposition. Instead they cite existing law and public opinion.
As we know laws can be introduced or extended quite easily and public opinion means nothing once politicians get an idea in their heads so it would be nice to hear a rather more robust defence of artistic freedom and expression.
Anyway the Guardian concluded its report with a short quote from me:
"Disney has a no smoking policy for its PG 13-rated films, and that’s fine, but films aimed at older audiences must be allowed to reflect real life, not some sanitised smoke-free world.
“Penalising films that portray smoking by giving them a rating equivalent to an 18 certificate is a clumsy and unnecessary attempt at censorship."
My full response included these additional comments:
"Smoking rates are falling throughout the Western world, especially among children, so there's scant evidence that films are encouraging young people to smoke.
"The portrayal of smoking in films should be a matter for the film industry and individual directors and producers, not the World Health Organisation.
"What next? Will films that portray drinking, violence and casual sex be given a similar rating in case they're a bad influence too?"
Have you noticed, by the way, how the "last frontier" in tobacco promotion keeps changing?
Fifteen years ago it was advertising and sponsorship. Then it was the display of tobacco in shops.
More recently it was packaging. Now it's smoking in films.
Eventually the mere act of lighting up will be the "last frontier" in tobacco promotion. Cue calls for the total prohibition of smoking.
Update: I'll be discussing smoking in films on BBC Radio Kent shortly after 9.00 and BBC World Service a little later.
Update: I'm also on LBC this evening after 7.00.