MPAA Says Bans On Smoking In Movies 'Infringes Free Speech'

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has been forced to defend itself against complaints that smoking in films should not be deemed suitable for children. In rebuttal of the complaint, the MPAA responded by claiming that movie ratings are opinions, according to the Guardian.

The suit against the MPAA aims at removing smoking imagery from films under the ratings of G, PG, or PG-13. The argument made by the MPAA is that by banning smoking imagery in film would be an infringement upon the first amendment right to free speech, and that the ratings for the programs that contain smoking should be a good indication of what US parents believe is suitable viewing for the children.

Timothy Forsyth, leader of the plaintiffs filing the suit, have argued that movie ratings are not protected by the first amendment, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The plaintiffs argue that there is a scientifically provable direct link between on-screen smoking and teenage uptake. They also mentioned that about 4.6 million adolescents were essentially recruited by youth-rated movies to smoking because placing the imagery on-screen was a form of false advertising.

Forsyth and others said in a memo, "The complaint asserts that defendants cannot affix a PG-13 or lower certification on movies with tobacco imagery, because they know that it has been scientifically established that subjecting children to such imagery will result in the premature death of more than a million of them."

The case is ongoing, but could have serious implications for how films are rated in the future. If the courts decide in favor of the plaintiffs, the precedent could open the door to further lawsuits regarding alcohol use, gambling, and high-speed driving on film.

Do you think smoking imagery should be banned from films with the rating of G, PG, and PG-13?