• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • First Impressions - The Game
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Netflix has a strict rule in place for smoking scenes in its shows after backlash

Home> Entertainment> Netflix

Updated 14:37 25 Jan 2024 GMTPublished 14:30 25 Jan 2024 GMT

Netflix has a strict rule in place for smoking scenes in its shows after backlash

The streaming platform had to reassess the amount of smoking scenes they were including in hit series.

Olivia Burke

Olivia Burke

Many people will have stopped smoking at the start of the New Year, but turning on the TV to see your favourite characters lighting up doesn't exactly make the process any easier.

Sadly, you can't rely on Netflix to distract yourself from the intense nicotine cravings - as a ton of characters in our favourite series are pretty partial to a puff.

It is part of the reason why the streaming platform introduced a strict rule regarding the nasty habit after they were previously slammed for the excessive use of smoking scenes in some of its most popular series.

Advert

Cigarettes are a form of currency in Orange is the New Black, Joyce and Hopper are never seen without a cig in Stranger Things, and the Royals are more than partial to a puff in The Crown - so you can't move for it.

Don't get me wrong; some characters suit it and make it an integral part of their personality.

Some iconic scenes wouldn't be the same without a cloud of smoke separating the characters and the token non-smoker coughing their guts up in the corner.

But the act has quite an impact on viewers too.

Following the release of the third Stranger Things series in July 2019, something had to give.

Advert

Stranger Things was dubbed Netflix's worst offender for smoking scenes.
Netflix

A report from public health nonprofit group Truth Initiative found that the hit show was one of the worst offenders on Netflix in regards to the inclusion of smoking scenes.

It found that there was tobacco in 100 per cent of episodes in the second season - and don't get me wrong, the cast probably need a cig after all the crap they go through.

Viewers admitted they had been tempted by the scenes at the time, with one saying that Stranger Things is 'the reason I started smoking cigs again'.

Another wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter): "I haven't smoked in 12 years, and really don't ever want to, nor will ever, start again.

Advert

"But all that smoking in Stranger Things is making me itch for a drag even after all this time. FFS."

It forced Netflix to examine the impact its productions were having on people watching at home, and it decided to introduce a strict rule limiting smoking scenes.

In the wake of the report, the streaming platform announced that all new shows it commissions with ratings of TV-14 or below (and all films rated PG-13 or below) would exclude smoking and e-cigarette use, except for 'reasons of historical or factual accuracy'.

The Crown was also chock-a-block with cigs.
Netflix

They 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)'.

Advert

A spokesperson said of the matter: "Netflix strongly supports artistic expression. We also recognise that smoking is harmful and, when portrayed positively on screen, can adversely influence young people."

In the report, Truth Initiative said that since 2018, 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 more than 200 tobacco incidents in programs rated TV-Y7 and TV-PG.

Featured Image Credit: Netflix

Topics: Netflix, TV and Film, Weird, Health

Olivia Burke
Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

X

@livburke_

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Netflix fans are getting a second season of '10/10' series watched for 51 million hours in a week
  • Netflix fans confused as two of its biggest titles are removed for good
  • Iconic Scarlett Johansson movie has just been added to Netflix without anyone realising
  • Netflix fans 'addicted' to 93% Rotten Tomatoes thriller where lead actress plays five roles

Choose your content:

an hour ago
4 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    New documentary claims Justin Bieber sold his entire 300-song music catalogue for $200 million for sad reason

    The 31-year-old is said to be facing a lot of demons

    Entertainment
  • 4 hours ago

    UK Eurovision star reveals surprising secret to winning ahead of tonight's contest

    Can the UK break their streak tonight?

    Entertainment
  • 4 hours ago

    Foo Fighters member releases statement claiming he’s been fired from the band

    Josh Freese addressed his departure in a statement on Instagram

    Entertainment
  • 7 hours ago

    Why UK does so bad at Eurovision as huge realisation made

    The UK never fares well at Eurovision

    Entertainment