Are MPAAs tobacco labels protecting audiences?
Researchers studied whether movie ratings changed during the year after the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced in May 2007 that it would take smoking into account when rating movies. Of the top movies released during that year, 38% of movies rated G and PG featured tobacco, compared to 58% of PG-13 movies and 80% of R-rated movies. Overall, 55% of movies accessible to youths—those rated PG-13 or below—featured tobacco products, and only 10% of these films carried MPAA tobacco descriptors. Furthermore, aside from a 29% decrease in smoking in PG-13 movies, there was no significant change in the amount of smoking shown in youth-accessible movies. Click here to read more. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance – United States, 2007 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System is a school-based survey that measures the prevalence of health risk behaviors among youths in grades 9-12, including smoking. Tobacco use remains among th
