Tobacco control laws and smoking in Turkish movies between 1992-2016

Abstract

Abstract Background Advertisement and promotion of tobacco products were banned in 1996; sponsorships ban was in 2008. Smoking in movies are not accepted as advertisement, but they can interfere young people' beliefs about smoking. In this study, the relation between tobacco control law and tobacco scenes in movies were evaluated. Materials and Methods The sampling of this descriptive research was 50 films selected two most watched Turkish movies from Turkish Cinema Studies and Box Office between 1992-2016. The movies were evaluated in three time intervals according to 1996 and 2008 Laws. The movies was watched by using the data record form including information about tobacco scenes. The content analysis method was used to evaluate the data; ethical principles were taken care of by the researchers. Results The selected films were watched by maximum of 7.4 M people and a minimum of 20 K people. Tobacco products were observed in 84% of the movies, the most observed was cigarettes (93%). The number of scenes with tobacco products had the range of 45 and 1; the duration is between 21.46-0.08 seconds. In tobacco images, 87% men, 78% adult age group and 40% leading actor while drinking were observed as smokers. It was found that two indicators (the average numbers of scenes; the scene duration) increased 1.6 times (p > 0.05, p > 0.05) between two tobacco laws. After banning sponsorship in 2008, 3.6-fold decrease in the number of scenes and a 5.3-fold decrease in the duration of the movies were observed compared with the period between two tobacco laws (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). Conclusions Stable and comprehensive tobacco control policies had an impact on reducing tobacco scenes in motion pictures in Turkey. However, the increase in watching movies on the internet today requires the development of new strategic interventions. Key messages Restrictions and prohibitions on the advertising, promotion and sponsorships of tobacco products should be systematically controlled in the cinema industry. A comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach is required to tackle the impact of the tobacco industry on motion pictures.