News
Young people, alcohol and the media report
13/09/2011
A new study by the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation explores media representations of alcohol and their influence on teenage drinking.
The study shows that, compared with the influence of friends, young people's exposure to media coverage of alcohol use and their attachment to celebrities were not important risk factors for their own alcohol consumption. Instead, estimates of their friends' drinking and the perceived acceptability of drinking by friends were found to be much better predictors.
Key findings include:
The study shows that, compared with the influence of friends, young people's exposure to media coverage of alcohol use and their attachment to celebrities were not important risk factors for their own alcohol consumption. Instead, estimates of their friends' drinking and the perceived acceptability of drinking by friends were found to be much better predictors.
Key findings include:
- alcohol was the most prominent substance and beverage portrayed in TV programmes watched by young people
- when the effects of alcohol were shown, they tended to focus on intoxication and extreme effects such as violence and alcohol dependence
- young people were critical of celebrities who were depicted drinking to intoxication
- neither young people nor media professionals thought that health-related messages about alcohol were newsworthy or of entertainment value