# Why does anyone today under seventy years old smoke cigarettes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 13, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990 "2022-03-13T20:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/61 "2022-03-18T19:34:49Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The claim was supported by several cites. Oh, when did you make any cite that supports the claim that smoking is more prevalent in media today than it was in smoking’s heyday? The only cites I’ve seen you put out don’t say anything like what you have claimed, contain somewhat dubious methodology, and also are decades old, so say _nothing_ about today. In fact, those studies predate legislation that makes illegal the very behavior you claim is on the rise. They don’t back your claim in the slightest. Not at all. That’s not science that you are putting forward, but entirely baseless assertions with _no_ evidence whatsoever. Pretty much the opposite of science. Did you put out some new cites that I missed somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/62 "2022-03-18T21:48:47Z")
Narrator: ironically he continued to blow smoke. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/63 "2022-03-18T23:25:46Z")
I don’t know how people can argue against it. Cigarettes are evilly addictive, which is why I remain a smoker to this day, and wish I wasn’t. This is a _strong_ addiction. Far easier for me to stop drinking, though it’s fair to note that it was due to being told I have cirrhosis also. I never missed it. When I try to stop smoking though…ergh, its all I can think about. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/64 "2022-03-19T15:25:22Z")
This year, Switzerland voted to ban cigarette advertising. It almost didn’t pass. Who didn’t want the ban to pass? > Just days before the vote it became clear - as many had suspected - that the tobacco companies had been funding the No campaign. > [Swiss approve tobacco ad ban long after neighbours](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60333336) The tobacco industry has a very strong influence in Switzerland. [![](https://exposetobacco.org/wp-content/uploads/switzerland.png) ](https://exposetobacco.org/wp-content/uploads/switzerland.png) Social smoking is still very common in Switzerland. I know some people who quit smoking in the last two years, because they stopped going out. And I know others who now smoke more, because they were already at home, where they could smoke freely. Going back to the office means that they can no longer smoke at their desks. Basically, it seems that quitting, or not even starting in the first place, is not that simple. And there are enough people who do enjoy smoking tobacco, and the industry is still strong enough, to keep tobacco attractive and legal. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/65 "2022-03-19T18:30:46Z")
FWIW, Disney has a blanket ban on any characters smoking in its movies. Apparently Warner Brothers does as well, at least in The Batman. Colin Farrell really wanted the Penguin to smoke cigars, but the studio wouldn’t let him. > **[Colin Farrell’s Penguin Banned From Smoking in ‘The Batman’: ‘I Fought...](https://variety.com/2022/film/news/colin-farrell-penguin-banned-smoking-batman-1235189304/)** > > The Penguin is often depicted in comic books with his trademark top hat, monocle and cigarette, but none of these signatures are sported by Colin Farrell in the upcoming “The Batman.” T… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/66 "2022-03-19T18:37:49Z")
I’m curious. Does that ban also apply to smoking marijauana in their movies? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/67 "2022-03-19T18:48:51Z")
No idea. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/68 "2022-03-19T18:49:22Z")
Yes, if you any two of the top 20 films of the past few years you will be lucky to see any smoking at all. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/69 "2022-03-19T19:11:58Z")
Of the top 5 R rated films for 2020, 3 were rated for smoking scenes. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/70 "2022-03-19T19:14:28Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > FWIW, Disney has a blanket ban on any characters smoking in its movies. Which led to a meta moment of sorts in Disney’s _Saving Mr. Banks_: P. L. Travers storms into Walt Disney’s office just as he’s stubbing out a cigarette, and he hurriedly explains that he never lets anyone see him smoking, because “it encourages bad habits.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/71 "2022-03-19T19:21:01Z")
Which is evidence that smoking is now strongly discouraged in movies. Not only is it not common, but it’ll actually get you a harsher rating just for having it. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/72 "2022-03-19T19:27:28Z")
Wait, now we’re limiting to to just R rated films? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/73 "2022-03-19T20:43:12Z")
No idea what this has to do with anything, but I get that this is one of your weird little obsessions, and there’s no point in talking to you about it, so I won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/74 "2022-03-19T21:02:16Z")
I can’t believe I wasted my time doing this… Smoking has been drastically reduced in all areas of life in the last 25 years and anyone who has seen a recent movie, other than Nightmare Alley, should know that this extends to popular films. I checked the parents guide on IMDB for what it had to say about smoking for the top ten films in 1996 and 2021. Here are the results… 1996 Independence Day - Characters smoke cigars as a celebration for “victory.” Cigars are featured continiously throughout the film Twister - None Mission: Impossible - Some characters are seen smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages The Rock - Some casual drinking and smoking, non-abusive The Nutty Professor - None Ransom - There’s some drinking/smoking The Birdcage - One or two instances of smoking A Time to Kill - Many people drink and smoke at bars and restaurants 101 Dalmatians - Cruella smokes a cigarette in a long cigarette holder The First Wives Club - A woman is seen drinking and smoking at the beginning of the film 2021 Spider-Man: No Way Home - None Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - None Venom: Let There Be Carnage - A man stomps out a cigarette butt Black Widow - None F9: The Fast Saga - None Eternals - None No Time to Die - None A Quiet Place Part II - None Ghostbusters: Afterlife - None Free Guy - None That’s 8 of 10 films with actual smoking compared to one cigarette butt. It’s not even close. In 1996 a G rated Disney movie had a main character that smoked. In 2021 a James Bond movie has no smoking at all. This ridiculous tangent has been brought to you by Lucky Strike. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/75 "2022-03-19T21:24:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Of the top 5 R rated films for 2020, 3 were rated for smoking scenes. I won’t believe this without a cite. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/76 "2022-03-19T21:28:25Z")
_Bad Boys For Life, 1917, The Invisible Man._ [https://www.the-numbers.com/market/2020/mpaa-rating/R-(US)](https://www.the-numbers.com/market/2020/mpaa-rating/R-(US)) ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/77 "2022-03-19T21:31:57Z")
Is there something on that page that supports your claim? Please quote it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/78 "2022-03-19T21:33:49Z")
You have google. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/79 "2022-03-19T21:35:57Z")
I’ll consider the claim retracted if you’re not even going to bother to pretend to support it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990/80 "2022-03-19T21:37:00Z")
You can google the rating on those films to show there was smoking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-today-under-seventy-years-old-smoke-cigarettes/960990.md?page=5)