Booze on the box: The portrayal of alcohol on British television: a content analysis

Abstract

The portrayal of alcohol was examined in a systematic sample of 50 programmes broadcast on British television. Four out of five programmes contained visual or verbal references to alcohol. On average, there was a reference to alcohol in every 6 minutes of programming. The programmes showed more alcohol being consumed than soft drinks or beverages, but there were few references to the hazards of alcohol consumption. The main recommendation is that television companies should accept a responsibility for presenting a more realistic and healthier approach to the use of alcohol in Britain