Film Classification: 18

18 films are suitable only for adults, and no-one younger may rent or buy an 18 or see on in the cinema. BBFC's guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be fee to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas;

• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• wher material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour to society - for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in 'R18' works, and in 'sex works' would normally be confined to that category

In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films

Sex works at '18'
Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed '18'. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the 'R18' category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at 'R18' is also unacceptable in a sex work at 18.

Sex education at '18'
Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted