Are movies encouraging kids to drink? New study shows relationship between 'boozy films' and teen drinking habits

According to research, the more a favorite character drinks, the more the teenage viewer will drink.

Research shows  a strong relationship between the drinking habits of teenagers and the choices of movies they watch. Young people are found to be more likely to consume and binge drink if they are into movies that feature the notable characters drinking alcohol. The scientists at the University of Bristol suggest that films featuring characters with unsafe practices be rated accordingly.

span style="line-height: 15.8599996566772px;">MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The findings of the study, Alcohol Use in Films and Adolescent Alcohol Use, says that 20 percent of teenagers who watch movies with characters drinking are more likely to have tried alcohol themselves, while 70 percent of them are even more likely to engage in binge drinking.

Participants were asked how much they had seen alcohol drinking, ranging from a little to too much, from the selected movies. They were also asked to answer how often they consume alcoholic drinks.

"If movies aren't rated for alcohol content so that parents are prevented from restricting viewing, we do need to be concerned about the movies and other media that kids are watching, regardless of their age," said the lead author Dr. Andrea Waylen.

According to Tech Times and the Daily Mail, alcohol use is a major aspect in the current public health issues. These alcohol-use related problems, as well as their negative implications on the youth, could be lessened if movies are rated accordingly.

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The rating system is inadequate, with regards to the exposure of children to such vices. Professor Victor Strasburger, at the University of New Mexico, suggested to the Motion Picture Association of America to include a child psychologist and pediatrician in their panel.

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