Although the state settlement agreements with the cigarette companies prohibits any payments by the cigarette companies to place their products in movies or television programs, the amount of smoking in U.S. films has increases significantly since the settlement agreements were signed in 1998.* Why this increase has occurred is not clear. But it is perfectly clear from numerous research studies that smoking in movies and related product placements work to increase smoking levels among kids.

Source = www.tobaccofreekids.org