Perdita
19-10-2009, 11:44
A top police officer has claimed that the UK's biggest soaps are setting a bad example to children by featuring an excessive number of pub scenes.
Pat Shearer, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, suggested that EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale should accept responsibility for binge drinking among underage teenagers.
"It's little wonder we are the way we are. You sit down in front of the television and every evening you're effectively in a pub," Shearer is quoted by The Sun as saying.
"Everybody is encouraged to drink and it almost creates the norm. Producers need to recognise the impact they may be having on individuals."
A BBC spokeswoman insisted: "EastEnders also shows negative consequences."
Soaps have often been criticised for their portrayal of alcohol in the past. Last year, a study found that a third of Emmerdale's characters would be classed as "depressed drinkers" in real life.
Meanwhile, Alcohol Concern described regular booze scenes on serial dramas as "shocking" in March.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a182622/cop-blames-soaps-for-underage-drinking.html
A lot of the characters drink soft drinks in the pubs, it is not just alcohol. And watching somebody in a pub on telly has never made get the wine out :rolleyes:
Pat Shearer, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, suggested that EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale should accept responsibility for binge drinking among underage teenagers.
"It's little wonder we are the way we are. You sit down in front of the television and every evening you're effectively in a pub," Shearer is quoted by The Sun as saying.
"Everybody is encouraged to drink and it almost creates the norm. Producers need to recognise the impact they may be having on individuals."
A BBC spokeswoman insisted: "EastEnders also shows negative consequences."
Soaps have often been criticised for their portrayal of alcohol in the past. Last year, a study found that a third of Emmerdale's characters would be classed as "depressed drinkers" in real life.
Meanwhile, Alcohol Concern described regular booze scenes on serial dramas as "shocking" in March.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a182622/cop-blames-soaps-for-underage-drinking.html
A lot of the characters drink soft drinks in the pubs, it is not just alcohol. And watching somebody in a pub on telly has never made get the wine out :rolleyes: