Alcohol use in films drives teens to drink
The more teenagers are exposed to alcohol consumption in films, the more likely they are to try alcohol and binge drink, a new study has shown.
Teenagers are more likely to binge drink if they are exposed to alcohol in films, research suggestsResearchers from the University of Bristol in the UK analysed data from more than 5,000 adolescents who were aged approximately 15-years-old from Bristol’s Children of the 90s study.
The results of the study, titled Alcohol Use in Films and Adolescent Alcohol Use, were published online in Pediatrics by the Unversity of Bristol’s Andrea Waylen of the School of Oral and Dental Sciences; Sam Leary of Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children; Andrew Ness of the School of Oral and Dental Sciences; and James Sargent of Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
They discovered that there was a direct correlation between the likelihood of teenagers trying alcohol and binge drinking and how exposed they have been to alcohol use in films.
Those teenagers who were more familiar with alcohol consumption in films were 1.2 times more likely to try alcohol and 1.7 times more likely yo binge drink.
Furthermore, the highest levels of exposure showed the chances of drinking every week increased to 2.4 and the risks of developing alcohol-related problems doubled.
The study concluded: “Exposure to AUFs [alcohol use in films] is associated with higher risk of alcohol use and alcohol-related problems in UK adolescents.
“Our findings provide evidence to support the argument that a review of film-rating categories and alcohol ratings for all films may help reduce problem-related alcohol consumption in young people.”
In an effort to counteract the effects of alcohol use in films and teenage alcohol behaviours, the researchers suggested a review of film-rating categories.
They noted that between 1989 and 2008, 72% of the UK’s most popular films contained scenes with alcohol use, yet just 6% were rated as adult only.
