China Limits Smoking In Films, TV Shows

February 16, 2021

China is ordering makers of films and TV shows to limit the amount of smoking depicted on-screen, the latest effort to curb rampant tobacco use in the country with the largest number of smokers in the world.

The order from the country's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television — viewed Tuesday on its website —orders producers to minimize plot lines and scenes involving tobacco and show smoking only when necessary for artistic purposes or character development.

Minors under age 18 cannot be shown smoking or buying cigarettes, and characters may not smoke in public buildings or other places where smoking is banned.

Where possible, actors and directors are encouraged to leave smoking out of their productions, the circular said, adding that images of smoking in movies and television shows were out of sync with government efforts to control tobacco use.

Tobacco Industry

For more than 50 years, tobacco industry has lied about the risks of its products, lied about addiction, lied about its manipulation of nicotine, and lied that its marketing has not targeted kids

(Non-Smokers’ Rights Association, 2004).