THE world’s leading academic on the study of the influence of films in people’s decisions to take up smoking has defended Liverpool health bosses’ plans to rate films which show tobacco use with 18 certificates.
Dr Stanton Glantz, of the University of California, said there was clear evidence from a range of studies from around the world that youngsters are more likely to smoke if they see it on the silver screen.
The Liverpool PCT policy, which it says would also apply to cartoons, has raised concerns from city leaders who say they think the plans are more about censorship than public health.
But San Francisco-based Dr Glantz said city health bosses were absolutely right to pursue the proposals, currently under consultation.
Dr Glantz said Liverpool’s approach had been recognised by the World Health Organisation as a way that public health bodies could apply their own jurisdiction where film classification bodies like the BBFC had rejected calls for a blanket ban.
It recently turned down a request from the Liverpool-based young person’s lobby, D-Myst, to rate all films with smoking featured with an 18 certificate.
