http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/obb67/issue67.pdf
Rule 1.10 of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code states:
The use of illegal drugs, the abuse of drugs, smoking, solvent abuse and the misuse
of alcohol:
• must not be featured in programmes made primarily for children unless there
is strong editorial justification;
• must generally be avoided and in any case must not be condoned,
encouraged or glamorised in other programmes broadcast before the
watershed, or when children are particularly likely to be listening, unless there
is editorial justification;
• must not be condoned, encouraged or glamorised in other programmes likely
to be widely seen or heard by under eighteens unless there is editorial
justification.
We are not aware of evidence from research in the UK that shows a direct correlation
between children who see smoking on television with a greater propensity to take up
smoking. However, broadcasters and Ofcom are required to protect those under
eighteen and that protection is particularly important where the youngest children are
concerned. There are concerns that smoking on television may normalise smoking.
For precautionary reasons Ofcom expects broadcasters to generally avoid smoking
in pre-watershed programmes. Research published in September 2005 by Ofcom
indicates that broadcasters are very aware and responsible in the way they include
smoking pre-watershed.
Boomerang is a channel that attracts a large number of children – 56% of its
audience are aged 4-14 years. Although historic cartoons such as these may have been made originally for family audiences they are now primarily viewed by children,
including very young children, who may be viewing on their own.
Stylised and comic actions in cartoons are not intrinsically a concern in themselves -
including violence and other activity which in a different context would be
unacceptable. However it depends on treatment and context. We recognise that
these are historic cartoons, most of them having been produced in the 40s, 50s and
60s at a time when smoking was more generally accepted. Depictions of smoking
may not be problematic given the context, but broadcasters need to make a
judgement about the extent to which they believe a particular scene may or may not
genuinely influence children. We note that in Tom and Jerry, smoking usually
appears in a stylised manner and is frequently not condoned.
However while we appreciate the historic integrity of the animation, the level of
editorial justification required for the inclusion of smoking in such cartoons is
necessarily high. We will look at all such cases individually.
Given Turner's commitment to adopt a precautionary approach, we welcome its
review of archive material and action taken to minimise the possibility of harm.
Resolved
), maybe you as a parent had something to do with it.
I thought it was the black Pegasus
