NCJ Number
169990
Date Published
1984
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The Nielson rating organization was asked to identify the 10 top-rated, prime time fictional television series at the conclusion of the 1979-1980 television season in order to evaluate the incidence of smoking and alcohol and other drug use in these programs.
Abstract
All instances in which characters smoked, consumed alcohol, or used illegal drugs were coded for top-rated situation comedies, dramas, and soap operas. In 16 hours of 2 soap operas, total tobacco use consisted of a single cigar. Smoking on prime time television in the top-rated series contained two critical smoking incidents, both distinctly negative in their consequences for smokers. No one in any of the programs used, cocaine, heroin, or hash. The 10 series yielded 195 alcohol incidents among 380 total drinks, or 8.13 separate incidents of alcohol consumption per program area. Programs varied systematically in their choices of beverages, but drinking alcohol was conspicuously present in all series. The impact of alcohol consumption in television shows on viewers is examined, and further research is suggested. 2 references and 1 table