[Intl-tobacco] NZ: Anti-smoking groups seek to keep kids out of heavy smoking movies

[Robert Weissman]

Source: Independent Newspapers Ltd.
7/16/01
Anti-smoking groups are set to lobby the Government to bar young
people from attending movies portraying excessive smoking.

It follows a push by the Australian Council on Smoking and Health to make
Australia's federal government put age restrictions on films in which
actors smoke excessively and unnecessarily.

Labour MP Judy Keall, who chairs Parliament's health select committee,
said such a move was in line with attempts in New Zealand to protect young
people and their health from bad role models.

Health Minister Annette King said the measure had not been considered in
New Zealand, but she would follow the moves in Australia with interest.

ASH director Trish Fraser said if possible the anti-smoking group would
lobby the Government to include such a change in the Smokefree
Environments Amendment Bill, which is before Parliament.

The controversial private member's bill, originally introduced by NZ  First MP
Tukoroirangi Morgan and now promoted by Ms Keall, requires  separate smokefree
areas in bars and restaurants, limits the sale  of tobacco products from
vending machines, and bans smoking on school  grounds.

Ms Fraser said hit films such as Titanic romanticised and glamorised  smoking,
and many were aimed at young people. "It might make producers  think about
whether it was worth having smoking in a movie, if it  meant that their
audience was going to be restricted."

Smoking in films was particularly damaging if it involved situations with
sexual connotations, attractive actors, or role models.

Smokefree Coalition director Leigh Sturgiss said the number of young
people smoking continued to climb.

"Cigarette smoking shouldn't be seen as an adult, cool, hip thing . . .
having people like Leonardo de Caprio smoking normalises it."

Ms Keall said the groups were welcome to make submissions supporting the
idea to the select committee, which would recommend what form the bill
should take to Parliament.

Film and Literature Classification Office communications adviser Brenden
Crocker said there was nothing in legislation allowing the office to
consider smoking content when classifying films.

When smoking was presented in association with factors such as sex,
violence, cruelty, or crime, the office could consider it.

Underage smoking would fall into this category, Mr Crocker said, because
it was a crime.

Film critic Matt Grainger said the idea sounded like a nightmare to
enforce.  There were certain situations where it was appropriate for
characters to smoke. There were far more concerning things in movies such
as the level of violence, that should be tackled, he said.

Libertarianz leader Peter Cresswell said he was totally against the idea.

"I wouldn't be surprised if, in five years from now, you'll have ratings
on movies with fatty foods in them. It'd be consistent - once you have the
principle that the state can tell you how to behave, then it's only
logical that they're going to tell you what films you can and can't
watch."

Broadcasting Standards Authority chief executive Evan Voyce said
television programmes showing excessive smoking would have to be screened
during the adults-only viewing period, which was from 8.30pm each night.