There tends to be a bit of controversy when it comes to America’s movie rating system. This Movie is Not Yet Rated is a documentary made in 2006 all about the arguments involving ratings. This was mostly between directors, studios and the MPAA ratings board. Sadly, they have one more thing they can start fighting about in Hollywood. An “R” rating should be given to any movies that have smoking in them if you ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). This will help protect young teens and children.
Paying for product placement is illegal
The CDC study indicates that ever since 1998, tobacco companies aren’t allowed to place product in movies. Sadly, there is still a lot of smoking in movies today. Numerous studies cited by the CDC suggest that kids 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. A significant number of G, PG and PG-13-rated films contain smoking, which has prompted the rating reclassification suggestion.
Stopping smoking 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 company associated with the movie received financial compensation from the tobacco industry or any associated business. However, the CDC’s R rating for smoking in movies seems to have gained the most traction to date, echoing a sentiment already given by the World Health Organization. WHO thinks that it is irresponsible to market towards children by filming smoking scenes.
Pay too much for the smoking addiction
Smoking appears to be costing a growing number of. MSN Money adds this sobering factoid to the anti-smoking fire. A 40-year-old smoker who kicks the habit and funnels the money spent on cigarettes and also the associated dry cleaning and higher health insurance rates into something more productive like a 401 (k) could conceivably conserve more than $ 250,000 by age 70. Paydayloans and short term loan are needed by the numerous who choose unhealthy lungs is more important than a nice retirement. The R-rated scene might really just be getting to the expense of smoking.
Additional 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
