Depiction of alcohol, tobacco use in G-rated animated films still high

Alcohol and tobacco use is depicted as normal behavior in nearly half of G-rated animated feature films. While researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health say that this is a slight decline, they note that “trends do not provide a strong indication of a commitment from the film industry to eliminate the depiction of alcohol and tobacco use in G-rated animated films.” These films also offer no warnings about the effect on health from using these substances. The study also found that use of tobacco or alcohol is not limited to “bad guys.” Characters categorized as good, neutral, or bad accounted for a nearly equal division of tobacco and alcohol use.