Smoking in films affects movie ratings

Los Angeles -- How a movie portrays smoking of any kind will determine its rating, the Motion Picture Association of America announced Thursday from its Los Angeles office.

Illegal teen smoking had been factored into a movie's rating, the MPAA said, along with other parental concerns such as sexual and violent content, and adult language. Now, all smoking will be considered, and depictions that glamorize smoking or movies that feature pervasive smoking outside of a historic setting or other mitigating context may receive a more restrictive rating.

In a statement, MPAA CEO Dan Glickman said the action expands consideration of under-age smoking in film ratings.

"Now, all smoking will be a consideration in the rating process," Glickman said. "Three questions will have particular weight for our rating board when considering smoking in a film: Is the smoking pervasive? Does the film glamorize smoking? And, is there an historic or other mitigating context?"

When smoking affects a rating, the rating will include phrases such as "glamorized smoking" or "pervasive smoking," he said.

Glickman said calls for a mandatory "R" rating for films that contain smoking would not further the goal of providing specific information for parents.

Copyright 2007 United Press International.