BINGE DRINKING IN MOVIES

There is far too much binge drinking in movies. The old bugaboo used to  be smoking by famous actors, but now that has virtually been eliminated. Instead, drinking is the in thing in films aimed at those 25 and under.

I confess I have delved into some "rom-com" movies in the last couple of years and drinking in those films is a regular, expected feature. These movies are largely aimed at being “date night movies” and that means they are aimed at people 30 and under, in the main. They are seen by high school and college age people very frequently. Here is the message these movies send about alcohol: Break up with your girlfriend? Get drunk. Happy about this or that? Get  drunk. Disappointed about something? Get drunk. Starting a new, exciting job? Get drunk.

The manner of the drinking in films is one of the most irresponsible aspects. Characters are  repeatedly shown throwing back shots one after another in a few minutes time. They will cut away and come back to show the actors standing in front of fifteen to twenty empty shot glasses. The films also show women participating at the same level, even though their lower body weight  won't absorb as much alcohol safely.

To make matters worse, the characters are often shown "the next day" going about their normal  activities without any sign of sickness or hangover. Surely, most of the audience knows from experience that this is not possible, but some are young and naive enough not to have this information.
 

These things have a massive influence on what people, especially the young, believe is an acceptable way to act. (Conversely, if film television and books did not have great influence on others, why would so many people be eager to work in those fields?) Furthermore, movies and television serve as a validation mechanism for those who are already engaged in such behavior. Having attractive, active and successful (in the story line) characters pound back shots helps to confirm that this sort of thing is normal, especially for young people. If those people on the screen are doing it, it must be all right. Movies represent a view of the world outside of family, school and the home area and the lifestyle they glamorize it taken by many to be worthy of following. (By the way, almost all of the rom-coms are set in New York, with a few in LA or some travel locales, like Paris or Hawaii.)

Why are  films so interested in appearing to promote something that can kill directly (through alcohol  poisoning) and indirectly through car crashes and other violent events?  Is someone paying off the film makers or are the producers and writers just uncaring, ignorant and far more concerned about making money than destroying lives? Make no mistake, people will, and are, dying because of films of this type.

Doug Terry, 1.12.12

FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL

January 2012

Binge Drinking

Nationwide Problem, Local Solutions

New estimates show that  binge drinking* is a bigger problem than previously thought. More than 38 million US adults binge drink, about 4 times a month, and the largest number of drinks per binge is on average 8. This behavior greatly  increases the chances of getting hurt or hurting others due to car  crashes, violence, and suicide. Drinking too much, including binge  drinking, causes 80,000 deaths in the US each year and, in 2006 cost the economy $223.5 billion. Binge drinking is a problem in all states, even in states with fewer binge drinkers, because they are binging more often and in larger amounts.

*Binge drinking means men drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks within a short period of time or women drinking 4 or  more drinks within a short period of time.

Problem

Binge drinking is a dangerous and costly public health problem

Binge drinking is a bigger problem than we thought.

• Binge drinking is about more than just the number of binge  drinkers. The amount and number of times binge drinkers drink are also  important to address.
• Age group with most binge drinkers: 18-34 years
• Age group that binge drinks most often: 65+ years
• Income group with most binge drinkers: more than $75,000
• Income group that binge drinks the most often and drinks most per binge: less than $25,000
• Most alcohol-impaired drivers binge drink.
• Most people who binge drink are not alcohol dependent or alcoholics.
• More than half of the alcohol adults drink is while binge drinking.
• More than 90% of the alcohol youth drink is while binge drinking.

Binge drinking costs everyone.

• Drinking too much, including binge drinking, cost $746 per person, or $1.90 a drink, in the US in 2006. These costs include health care  expenses, crime, and lost productivity.
• Binge drinking cost federal, state, and local governments about 62 cents per drink in 2006, while federal and state income from taxes on alcohol totaled only about 12 cents per drink.
• Drinking too much contributes to over 54 different injuries and diseases, including car crashes, violence, and sexually-transmitted diseases.
• The chance of getting sick and dying from alcohol problems increases significantly for those who binge drink more often and drink more when they do.

How many people binge drink? How often? How much?

SOURCE: 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor  Surveillance System Combined Landline and Cell Phone Developmental  Dataset, adults aged 18 and older, US

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U.S. State Info

Percent of adults who binge drink

Binge drinking varies from state to state, and estimates of adults who binge drink range from 10.9% in Utah to 25.6% in Wisconsin. Binge  drinking is most common in the Midwest, New England, the District of  Columbia, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Centers for Disease Control and PreventionPercent of adults who binge-drink, by state.

  Photography from Guatemala, Maryland, Italy and elsewhere by Doug Terry

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