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ERIC Number: ED210710
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1980-Nov
Pages: 20
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Consequences on Prime Time Network TV.
Lowry, Dennis T.
A study was conducted to establish a baseline of facts concerning the extent, nature, and social functions of the drinking of alcoholic beverages as depicted on prime time network television programing. A content analysis was undertaken of a random sample of programs drawn from the three major networks over a period of 14 evenings. The primary unit of analysis was the "drinking incident"--the actual or implied consumption of an alcoholic drink by a actor with a speaking role. Other items recorded included the number of times actors refused drinks offered to them, the function of each drinking episode, and the negative short-term and long-term consequences of drinking that were presented. The results revealed 293 male and 113 female drinking incidents, with 64% of all programs containing at least one such episode. The overall rate of drinking incidents was 3.92 per hour. The negative consequences of drinking were seldom presented, and the ratio of drinking incidents to negative short-term consequences was 25.4 to 1, and to negative long-term consequences 101.5 to 1. No program dealt with alcohol abuse and treatment. (FL)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Speech Communication Association (67th, New York, NY, November 13-16, 1980).