Smoking in movies glamorises and promotes nicotine addiction. Following restrictions to tobacco advertising over recent years, the tobacco industry has increasingly seen film as a medium for promoting its products.
Measures are therefore required to address the negative impact on public health of the depiction of smoking in movies. This position statement explores the evidence base and history of smoking in movies, summarises the key points and includes recommendations from the Cancer Council on how government and non-government organisations can act to reduce the preventable death and disease caused by the promotion of tobacco use through film.