‘Glamorous’ smoking will be banned on Netflix shows

NETFLIX has vowed to slash the number of smoking scenes in dramas after being accused of ‘glamorising’ the habit and effectively advertising cigarettes.

The online streaming giant said all of its own future family and children’s programmes will be smoke-free. It plans to feature no smoking in dramas except on occasions of ‘historical or factual accuracy’. One exception will be hit royal series The Crown which shows real-life smoker Princess Margaret, p l a yed by Vanessa Kirby, pictured, puffing away.

A spokesman said: ‘ Netflix strongly supports artistic expression. We also recognise that smoking is harmful and when portrayed positively on screen can adversely influence young people.’ The company added that later this year smoking information will be included as part of film and drama ratings in a similar way to warnings about sex and drug use.

The announcement came after a study found characters in Netflix’s own shows smoked far more often than on traditional TV. Sci-fi drama Stranger Things had 262 depictions of smoking in its second series, according to a study by US health group Truth Initiative.

Orange Is The New Black featured tobacco 233 times in its series in 2017.

Robin Koval, of Truth Initiative, said: ‘Content has become the new tobacco commercial. We’re seeing a pervasive re-emergence of smoking imagery across screens that is glamorising and re-normalising a deadly addiction and putting young people squarely in the crosshairs of the tobacco industry.’