Smoking in Films

**Panda** · 11th June 2008, 06:04 PM

I agree with Stevo on this one, it is incredibly rare to see someone smoking on TV or in movies these days, & as Stevo says, when you actually do see someone smoking, you notice. I do however seriously doubt it would make a blind bit of difference as to people actually starting to smoke because they see somebody on TV doing it.

Originally Posted by stevo68

Firstly I concur, secondly I am also trying to quit as well. I would also disagree with there being a huge amount of smoking in movies. I am a DVD addict and would say it is pretty rare to see someone smoking in a movie, in fact I actually notice it if someone is smoking.

To me its a bit like the whole supposed binge drinking epidemic amongst our youths........like derr. I remember at age 16/17 emptying out half a 2 litre coke bottle and topping it up with JD, or before a Mentals as Anything concert, my mates and I mixing Bacardi and coke in our mouths as we had no cups. Seriously....what has changed?

Could some people take up smoking because they saw it in a movie, most likely yes. Many may try, like a lot of people due to experimentation. Out of all my mates I grew up with, I'm the only one who smoked and smoking in movies back then ie 20+ yrs ago was a lot more prevalent as was the advertising of smoking. Good topic though

,

Regards

Stevo

**LandyAndy** · 11th June 2008, 06:42 PM

Did you know.
Under Worksafe laws smoking is illegal in ALL workplaces.
There is only 1 exception,and that is for actors whilst on the set only,TRUE STORY!!!!
Andrew

**rangieman** · 11th June 2008, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by ladas

Devils advocate

Firstly I smoke like a chimney !!!!

So if smoking in films causes young people to smoke,

What does shooting people in films do

What does fornicating in films do

What does any other evil, dangerous, or illegal act in films do - be it simple speeding, using illegal drugs, murder, robbery etc., etc.,

Sorry but the theory just doesn't cut it with me

x 10

**stevo68** · 11th June 2008, 06:59 PM

I may be wrong but...

I think you'll find that Aust films and TV shows rarely show smoking anymore as compared to same shows back in the 60's & 70's
Pommy TV and movies have not quite caught up with Aust standards. I think more Poms still smoke and the anti-smoking laws over there are not as strict, so in Pommie TV you see more smoking

so....just watch Aust shows
OK...so you'll miss the best TV shows ever...but...what the heck

and...good on anyone who gives up smoking
You increase survival by a huge %. Guess that's cold comfort if you don't fancy living to a ripe old age

Grumpy Old Men..UK Show.. which for some reason I am relating to more and more as the days go by

, very often features the "subjects" smoking whilst conversing with the narrator,

Regards

Stevo

**JDNSW** · 11th June 2008, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by vnx205

I am not talking about censorship.
I think there is a difference between calling for a ban on smoking in movies and calling for an end to gov't funding for such films.

Yes there is a difference, but it is a difference in degree, not character - it is using a government's powers (in this case money) to affect the content of films.

For that matter, I've never really been too happy about government (my) money subsidising films anyway, but that is not the question under discussion.

John

**vnx205** · 11th June 2008, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Yes there is a difference, but it is a difference in degree, not character - it is using a government's powers (in this case money) to affect the content of films.

For that matter, I've never really been too happy about government (my) money subsidising films anyway, but that is not the question under discussion.

John

I don't accept your first point about the content of films being affected. Those films, or at least the more commercial ones, will still be made. I have acknowledged that all along.

The Fed Gov has a role to play in public health through education programs designed to discourage unhealthy behaviour.

Would some one please explain to me why it makes sense for the gov't on the one hand to be spending money discouraging people from smoking and on the other hand providing money for films which give a false impression about how common and socially acceptable smoking is.
Does it make sense for the govt to provide funds to encourage as well as discourage smoking?

Perhaps someone could also provide a reasonable alternative explanation for why so many young people believe that the majority of adults smoke when the real figure is 24%.
I have suggested that films have helped create that impression. I am willing to listen to other sensible explanations for that common misconception.

**vnx205** · 11th June 2008, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

I may be wrong but...

I think you'll find that Aust films and TV shows rarely show smoking anymore as compared to same shows back in the 60's & 70's
Pommy TV and movies have not quite caught up with Aust standards. I think more Poms still smoke and the anti-smoking laws over there are not as strict, so in Pommie TV you see more smoking
.....
...
...

You may be right. I was under the impression that some Australian groups, including some medical bodies were concerned that the prevalence of smoking in films was on the increase again.
They may be wrong.
And so might I.

Which leads me to another point.
Someone (on TV, not on this forum) tried to argue that taking the smoking out of films would be as unrealistic as taking the rough language out of a pub scene.
Surely there are now few enclosed public places where smoking in permitted.
So a film set in Aus in 2008 could easily have a lot of scenes where it would be unrealistic to have the characters smoking.

**Panda** · 12th June 2008, 03:58 AM

Originally Posted by vnx205

Would some one please explain to me why it makes sense for the gov't on the one hand to be spending money discouraging people from smoking and on the other hand providing money for films which give a false impression about how common and socially acceptable smoking is.
Does it make sense for the govt to provide funds to encourage as well as discourage smoking?

What movies are we talking about? For the life of me, I can't think of one Australian film that portrays people smoking (other than way, way back before smoking in movies/tv became an issue). Maybe I don't watch enough Australian movies!

**Xavie** · 12th June 2008, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by vnx205

Movies like "Pulp Fiction" will still be made. It's just that they will be made without gov't funding.

I thought "Thank You for Smoking " was a great movie.

Sorry, I misunderstood what you said in your first post and re-read it... my mistake.

Xav

**vnx205** · 12th June 2008, 07:41 AM

The answers to some people's questions and objections can be found here:
The NSW Public Health Bulletin May-June 2004: Promoting tobacco to the young in the age of advertising bans
Film is arguably the most influential medium among the young. There is strong evidence that seeing smoking in film encourages children to smoke. One study found that non-smoking teenagers whose favourite film stars smoked on screen are up to 16 times more likely to view smoking favourably.

... and here:
ASH Australia media release: Oscars tobacco 2004 movie smoking films

A study published this month in the American Journal of Public Health* shows the incidence of smoking scenes in randomly-selected movies, after falling in the early 80s, had risen again since the 1990s to levels observed in 1950 – when smoking rates were twice as high.

... and here:
The Cancer Council New South Wales :: Reeling Them In - Smoking in movies

Out of the top ten non-animated movies at the Australian box-office in 2006 , seven contained smoking.

I will leave you to read them if you are interested.

If you google "smoking in films" on Australian sites, you will find several others.

NB. Some of these sites are advocating a ban.
I am not.
I am just suggesting that the gov't stops spending money on promoting smoking at the same time as it spends money aimed at discouraging people.

Thread: Smoking in Films

Thread Tools

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions