Let's watch a video

About 79 per cent of UK households now have a video recorder. People mostly use them to record TV programmes which they watch at a more convenient time. At weekends, people also go to a video shop to rent a film instead of going to the cinema.

Teenagers aged between 14 and 16 like getting together with friends to watch a video. They often choose films with an 18 rating. These videos are unsuitable for people below the age of 18 because they are violent, but many teenagers watch them anyway.

a  Do you have a video recorder? Do you use it to record programmes?

b  Should teenagers aged 14 to 16 be allowed to watch films with an 18 rating? Why (not)?

Michael Vaughan-Rees, Geraldine Sweeney, Picot Cassidy: In Britain. 21st Century Edition, Cornelsen Verlag, 2000, page 57