Butt Out

The Motion Picture Association of America has decided to rate movies more aggressively based on the use of tobacco. Classic and historical films like Casablanca (or any other with Bogart for that matter) may now be re-rated as R. The only ones that may be saved from this demise, are portrayals of historical figures who actually smoked. The defense of this action is that smoking in PG and PG-13 movies influences children/adolescents so much, that they won’t be able to contain their urges to light up. The Smoke Free Movies campaign is the main proponent of the ban saying (via Slate) that smoking in movies can be attributed to hundreds of thousands of children smoking. Hundreds of thousands? From movies? I have an extremely difficult time buying this figure. What about this figure seems so unbelievable?

Rather, I think kids are exposed to tobacco in many other ways that validates its use to them, other than it being portrayed in movies. Parents and relatives have to be the biggest influence. Tobacco is sold in convenience stores. It’s advertised Even though many progressive cities and states have implemented various smoking bans, people still smoke on the street. When kids observe it as a normal occurrence, it becomes a standard in their mind.

If tobacco use in movies leads to an automatic R rating, what next? Why not label movies with any use/reference to alcohol, trans fats, weapons, and kids not wearing bicycle helmets R as well. My favorite childhood movie, the Disney version of Robin Hood, has a scene at the fair (when Robin wins the archery contest) where Little John stuffs Sir Hiss into a barrel of ale. When the snake is removed, he visibly drunk to any adult. The Simpsons reruns , shown on syndication at times when children are most likely to be watching has countless scenes of Homer drinking duff beer or going to Moe's, the local tavern. Barney, Homer's best friend, is in a constant state of inebriation. To the best of my knowledge, Robin Hood is still rated G and the Simpsons are watched by young adolescents.

Most movies with references/depictions of sex and drugs or drug use are rated R, but we all know that kids under 18 experiment with both. Granted, one may be due more to a biological curiosity rather than an on-screen influence or straight up curiosity but given that fact, what will banning smoking from non R films do? In my opinion, nothing. The kids who are going to smoke are going to no matter if they see it in movies, on television, or on the street. It goes back to the rebellion factor at that age. If something is illegal or they are told not to do it by schools, parents, and society in general, it's a huge thrill to defy the rules.

If people really want to stop kids from smoking, increase the legal age of purchase to 21, increase the taxes on tobacco, and start taking kids on field trips to the cancer wards at hospitals.