The new season of Stranger Things has been out for less than 24 hours and it's already been blasted by critics. This time it's for the use of smoking scenes - not just in the latest episodes but also for previous seasons.
A new report from anti-smoking group, Truth Initiative, found that the second season of Stranger Things was the worst offender with 100 per cent of episodes including tobacco.
Now Netflix has said that going forward, all new shows it commissions with ratings of TV-14 or below (and all films rated PG-13 or below) will exclude smoking and e-cigarette use, except for 'reasons of historical or factual accuracy', Variety reports.
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The streaming service also added that new projects with higher ratings will not depict smoking or e-cigarette use 'unless it's essential to the creative vision of the artist or because it's character-defining (historically or culturally important)'.
In a statement to Variety, a spokesperson said: "Netflix strongly supports artistic expression. We also recognize that smoking is harmful and when portrayed positively on screen can adversely influence young people."
In the report, Truth Initiative said that since last year tobacco on the small screen has more than doubled. Despite tobacco advertising limitations, an estimated 28 million young people saw tobacco on their screen, and with more than 200 tobacco incidents in programs rated TV-Y7 and TV-PG.
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They wrote that the message is coming through in shows deemed appropriate for young audiences which they said is 'unacceptably high'.
Truth Initiative made some suggestions on how to combat the problem including committing to no tobacco depictions in future production and also marking previously produced material with tobacco descriptors.
Featured Image Credit: NetflixTopics: Entertainment, TV and Film, Stranger Things
