Health lobby losing the plot

We learned today from the health lobby that smoking in films is not essential to the plot. Well, they should know, for surely they are as well qualified to be art critics as they are to determine so many other aspects of how we should live our lives.

This apparently well-researched fact came with the call to certify all films which depict smoking as unsuitable for anyone under 18. Images of smoking encourage youngsters to take it up we’re told, for it seems today’s youth is unable to understand, contextualise or make informed decisions.

For comparison, films portraying illegal drugs are currently categorised as suitable for 15s and over.

Yet our impressionable youth should be shielded until they’re old enough to vote, even if that would guard them from some of life’s realities that might help inform their decisions in the polling booth, and qualify them to be there.

For the sake of argument, shall we assume it is true that under 18s will do what they see on the screen? If that were the case, should we really start by worrying about smoking?

Well, there’s hard-core drug taking for a start, and boozing, if we’re to stick to the health theme. There’s also anti-social behaviour, crime and corruption. Then there’s any number of the rest of society’s ills all regularly, and often graphically, shown on the screen.

Come to think of it, this story was on a news show which also showed the summer’s riots. Should we stop under-18s from following current affairs too, lest those kick off again?

The health lobby may well have a point but, if they do, they would serve themselves well to stick to the plot and try not to sound so absurd.