Concern over film smoking

The UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies scrutinised the 15 most commercially successful films in the UK each year since 1989, examining how often young people were exposed to smoking and its related products.

The centre looked at some 300 films recording how often tobacco use and smoking paraphernalia – such as cigarette packs and lighters – made an appearance. Tobacco, or tobacco by association, appeared in 70 per cent of the films reviewed and over half of these films were given a "15" classification by the British Board of Film Classification.

Ailsa Lyons, who led the study at the University of Nottingham, said: "Since the majority of smokers become addicted in their teens, measures to prevent exposure of young people to tobacco products and positive role models in films are especially important."