Media studies

6th September 2002, 1:00am
Ask your students to analyse the instances of drinking in their normal week’s television viewing. How do the characters use alcohol? Is it celebratory? (Champagne at the conclusion of a garden makeover?) Is it social - depicted as an activity which holds a community together? Is it solitary? (Someone has a problem) Is drinking ever depicted as a satisfactory solution to such problems? Is drink choice used to help characterisation? Do “good” characters drink differently from “bad” characters? Is under-age drinking ever condoned? Does excessive drinking always lead to trouble? Does TV promote sensible drinking?