Alcohol, television, and teenagers.

This paper examines alcohol use of young people and their TV viewing habits in terms of hours and kinds of programs watched. Content of TV programs is examined with regard to alcohol use by characters and the effects of such modeling on viewers' habits. Ads for alcoholic beverages in print and on TV are discussed and the results of studies are presented. Recommendations are suggested for the TV industry as well as for viewers in order to minimize the effects of alcohol as a socially desirable and tension-reducing substance.