The BBFC’s Consumer Advice enables the public to make informed choices about the films, DVDs and interactive works available to them.
Consumer Advice is a brief description of the content which determined the classification of a film, DVD or video game. As well as noting particular issues such as violence, sex, language, drugs or any other matters likely to be of concern, it can also highlight themes, such as suicide, or contexts, such as comedy or fantasy, which can influence the strength of the material. At the junior categories Consumer Advice can also warn of behaviour which may be potentially harmful if copied, or highlight content, such as characters in dangerous situations, which might frighten or upset younger viewers.
Consumer Advice indicates the strength of individual issues by using the terms ‘mild’, ‘moderate’, ‘strong’ and ‘very strong’, across the categories. For example, language at ‘U’ and ‘PG’ is likely to be ‘mild’ while at ‘15’ and ‘18′ language can be ‘strong’ and ‘very strong’. Where relevant, the frequency with which the issue appears in the work is also indicated.
With the co-operation of the film and video industry, Consumer Advice is routinely displayed on both film advertising, including posters, on print media and television, and on packaging for video works.
On film posters, the Consumer Advice should be found in a box near the film’s title, alongside the classification, for example:
On DVDs or video games classified by the BBFC, Consumer Advice should be found on the back of the packaging, alongside the classification symbol, for example:
Consumer Advice is also available on the BBFC websites, www.bbfc.co.uk and www.pbbfc.co.uk.
Extended Classification Information
For cinema films classified after July 2007, and video games classified after September 2007, the BBFC website also carries Extended Classification Information (ECI).
ECI provides, over several paragraphs, a more detailed explanation of the classification issues that defined the work’s category. It also notes any additional content which did not determine the classification but may be of interest to the likely audience.
The Parents BBFC website also provides detailed content information tailored specifically for parents and guardians. It is designed for adults who want a more detailed understanding of the issues they are likely to find in a film, DVD or video game before they allow a child to see or play it. Parents BBFC can be found at www.pbbfc.co.uk.
