Frequency and duration of smoking scenes in Turkish movies

Comprehensive tobacco control law in Turkey bans advertisement, promotion of tobacco products and sponsorship by tobacco industry. Advertisement of tobacco products were banned on television, bilboards and press media, but not on movie films. In order to evaluate the frequency and duration of smoking in the movies, 60 most watched Turkish films which were on the vision during the second half of 2016 were determined for this descriptive study. Two young males having a university degree were trained on the aim and methodology of the study. Then the two observers viewed the films independently and recorded smoking scenes or direct appearance of tobacco products on a standard form. There were tobacco products or smoking views in 36 (60%) out of total 60 movies. In these movies there were 4.75 times tobacco occurrences as an average (median 3). Average duration of smoking occurrences was almost 3.5 minutes (198 seconds). Smokers were mostly main characters and smoking occurrences were mostly in exciting or romantic atmosphere, which are attractive for young people. In the light of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (Article 13), smoking scenes in movies is considered as kind of tobacco advertisement and promotion, which influences smoking behaviour particularly the young people. Therefore control and prevention of smoking occurrences in movies is important for protection of children and young people to start smoking. Some health warnings and anti tobacco messages may be placed in the movies, in order to reduce tobacco views in the movies.