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Quote by: sdbest  
Tobacco companies, for decades, have colluded with Hollywood to have smoking portrayed favorably in movies. The tobacco companies do this because it helps sell cigarettes, and, more importantly gets young people to start.
"Smoking in movies is the most powerful pro-tobacco influence on kids today, accounting for 52% of adolescents who start smoking, an effect even stronger than cigarette advertising." [ Source]
Given that watching tobacco use in movies is so harmful to young people, should movies that depict smoking be given an NC-17 rating? |
As you have already pointed out, movie ratings are voluntary in the United States. If the MPAA's Classification and Rating Administration wishes to rate all films depicting smoking as NC-17, they are free to do so. I would not agree with the decision, ethically speaking, but it would not be mine to make.
- Rob