I mean in young kid movies no. But in adult movies or something that is okay I believe. I mean we all know people smoke and it is bad for you and movies with people smoking aren't going to convince everybody to smoke!

 Why ban smoking in the movies? Smoking is a fact that we see everywhere inreal life. If we are going to allow sex, murder, nudity, drinking, and profanity in the movies, why not smoking.

 I guess I am a little idealistic about movies. I think of them as art and I think of movie makers as artists. I know not all movies qualify as really artistic achievements and some are actually more like products or even advertisements for products (action figures, games).
Still, I do not like the idea of artists being told what should or should not be in their work.
Furthermore, I think there is plenty of non-smoking education (propoganda?) in school. Children learn at a very early age what the consequences of smoking are. Also, it is parents' responsibility to teach their children and to tell the children what is and is not acceptable when they are still children under their parents' care. This should also be happening from a very early age so that when children get to the age where they go to movies on their own, they are well aware of their parents' expectations. At some point, children begin making decisions on their own and parents must rely on the values they have instilled in their children.
Once people are adults, smoking becomes a personal choice.

 So when they ban it in movies will they ban it in places where a child could possibly catch a glimpse of someone doing it? People can make the decision to smoke for themselves. I don't think that it should be banned. Put it in any movie they want. I don't want to live in a nation controlled by regulations like this.

After thinking about this for a couple of days there are some movies that smoking plays a part in. In Constantine the main character smokes and it plays a part in the plot. I remember when I was little I'd read batman comics and watch the cartoons and the penguin always had a cigarette on a long plastic holder with him. It sort of defined the character he was. He had a monacle, a cane, the cigarette, and a tuxedo. They all went together. I don't think that it drove me to smoking though, how could it? It seemed like an appropriate use of a cigarette in a children's show. Cigarettes don't seem invasive to me in the movies at all.

 Hey,
smoking is everywhere. So why should they not appear in movies?

 I do not see why/ its not like you are inhaling the smoke through the screen

 It should be up to the parents to guide the child not Hollywood they show sex on movies and killing but its up to the parents to teach the child that it happens on a screen does not mean it happens in real life,like cartoons when a cartoon person gets shot and jumps back up parents should explain that does not happen in real life JUST my thought

 Kids Are Going To Do What Thy Want. If They Are Influenced To Do Something, It Won't Be Because Of A Movie.

 Well, if kids shouldn't see people smoking, they shouldn't see people fighting, swearing, losing competitions, hitting other people, shooting people, shouting at people, being bad-mannered etc etc. All these things appear in kids tv programmes and cartoons all the time and I would be mortified if my kids had grown up behaving like that just because they saw it on tv or on a film. Some people are very easily influenced, and you shouldn't legislate for the lowest common denominator, otherwise the rest of us have to live our lives as if we too have only half a brain.

 Smoking occurs in real life. If the movies are meant to portray real life, than there would be smoking.

 That's what this country is about "freedom" ,we as Americans have the right to do whatever we please as long as it is with in the law. Its the parents who need to control what their children can watch and who their role models could or should be! I smoke sometimes but I've only been smoking for 2years and people on TV did not cause me to smoke i did it myself , and I'm 37 and ready to quit!!!!!!!!

 I don't agree with this. What if the role of the actor or actress is bad? Then if they don't do something bad (eg. Smoking) they couldn't portray well the assigned roles to them. And people wouldn't feel their presence.

 No what if its a child's fav star and they see them smoking their gonna think cool I'm gonna go smoke

 It might be a bad influence but it shows how the movie compares to real life

 Why are we all against banning things these days? People for ages have watched movies with smoking, and they made their own decisions on whether or not they are going to smoke! We should all be able to make that decision!!!!!

 Vballgal, I think that saying "smoking should not be in movies" is a little harsh. I am a teenager, I do not smoke, nor do I encourage it, but that doesn't mean that it can't be in movies AT ALL. I mean, seeing people smoking excessively in movies isn't good, but sometimes the smoking is in the context. For example, if you were watching a Mafia movie, and occasionally the guys would be puffing on cigars, that would make sense to the movie because those are the characters, right? Sometimes in life, we are going to be exposed to the good, the bad, and the ugly, and we are going to have to deal with it. I do not think that people should take smoking out of movies altogether, and I also do not think that seeing someone smoking on TV will make you grow up to be an addict...just teach kids well as they are growing up, encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle, and you should be fine.

 I don't go to the movies very often, but it's pretty obvious to me that smoking has just about gone the way of the twin beds. But I have to wonder why the word "drink" always refers to an alcoholic beverage. And why does every relationship end up in bed?

What is being said here is that alcohol and sex are okay, but showing a character smoking is not. How hypocritical! Kids are pounded with the evils of smoking (not a bad thing for them to know) but casual sex and a never-ending supply of beer and hard liquor is acceptable? Cigarettes can't be advertised on TV. What happened to the ban on advertising hard liquor? As long as they throw in something about a designated driver or drinking responsibly, it makes it all right.

It's time parents took responsibility for the actions of their children. It's time to stop trying to ban whatever some people don't like. This is a democracy, not a police state (not yet, anyway). The idea that kids will start smoking because they see it in the movies is trite and is just an excuse.

 If drinking is allowed why not smoking !

 I think that smoking should not be in cartoons. Adult movies show lust, affairs, nudity, cussing, etc. I don't think that smoking a cigg is worse than any of that. We see horrible driving and people being maimed, the last thing I'm worried about is seeing is who is smoking. I do agree with thisismyac there is some good points there.