Coronation Street & Alcohol

TEMPLE3188 · 28-11-09, 07:18 PM

Today, I sat down with my girlfriend to watch some TV with her, generally just to spend some time with her after feeling sorry because I am always on the computer.

She decided to watch Coronation Street (Corrie), after about 10 minutes of actually watching the show I couldn't believe how many references to alcohol there actually was!

In the morning, lunch, evening and night, people are at the pub drinking pints, the women who work in the factory drink pints 24/7, Vicky and the butchers wife pick up kids from school and immediately drink at the pub, the ginger family putting up Christmas decorations are all drinking cans of beer, the list could go on.....

This was one episode I watched, and people wonder why we have binge drinkers, underage drinkers? I couldn't believe what I was seeing, if people actually drank as much as everyone on this show during the day and week surely they would be alcoholics!? ...and dead by they're 50.

It's not the references to alcohol that got me thinking, it's the casual approach to so much alcohol, there's barely a time on the show where people aren't just talking without walking to the pub, being in the pub, or walking out of the pub.

I googled and was expecting to see something on the topic mentioned in the news i.e. BBC and there was nothing, well nothing that I could find. Which got me thinking, does the government really rely so much on these 'Soaps' to preoccupy people from their daily lives so much that they are afraid to battle them in case the community actually finds something else to do such as wonder why they slave 5 days a week just to 'get by' with their bills, tax etc?

What's everybody elses opinion on this? Just couldn't believe what I was seeing to be honest, the amount of drinking would put people in commas.

kili · 28-11-09, 07:24 PM

haha now you mention it... I haven't noticed it before but yes you are right. far too much drinking for what is essentially a family show

Monkeyegg · 28-11-09, 07:40 PM

I guess it's cos it is centred around a pub. It's better than the recent trend Corrie has shown of trying to increase viewers by having Rosie Webster half naked all the time.

arcticfox · 28-11-09, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkeyegg

I guess it's cos it is centred around a pub. It's better than the recent trend Corrie has shown of trying to increase viewers by having Rosie Webster half naked all the time.

speak for yourself

Gregm · 28-11-09, 07:41 PM

or even comas, but yes you are right, unfortunately the pub is the centre point of the show son it is used to connect everyone

gpow · 28-11-09, 07:56 PM

Well they are not binge drinking, they are just having a drink after work and for lunch everyday of the week haha. Its not like everyone is walking around pissed up lol.

TEMPLE3188 · 28-11-09, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpow

Well they are not binge drinking, they are just having a drink after work and for lunch everyday of the week haha. Its not like everyone is walking around pissed up lol.

Yeah they're not walking around pissed, but they're even tricking people into thinking that drinking as often as they do is normal and has no effect at all, it's not just coronation street, the same is said for Emmerdale and Eastenders, people are saying it's orientated around a pub, by WHY is it orientated around a pub, is that all people can associate everything with?

joewarne · 28-11-09, 08:02 PM

This is what i was talking about in the other thread (the one about prices going down), alcohol is so bread into the culture youngsters have no choice really but to have a drink.

arcticfox · 28-11-09, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEMPLE3188

people are saying it's orientated around a pub, by WHY is it orientated around a pub, is that all people can associate everything with?

I imagine its centred round a pub so that the writers can have an excuse to have many characters in the same place, at the same time. Or that's my thought lol.

az87aris · 28-11-09, 08:06 PM

I can't see many youngsters watching soaps anyway tbh, and i can't see soaps leading to binge drinking. If someone is going to have a drink then they're going to have a drink. I think it's bonkers that anyone would think people would be influenced so much by a soap they'd become an alcoholic.

gpow · 28-11-09, 08:20 PM

Most communities are centred round pubs anyways, especially in the settings they are located in. How do you think the writers get the ideas.

az87aris · 28-11-09, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpow

Most communities are centred round pubs anyways, especially in the settings they are located in. How do you think the writers get the ideas.

True, they don't call them their locals for nothing

williamblah · 29-11-09, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by az87aris

I can't see many youngsters watching soaps anyway tbh

My brother is 12 and he is a soap addict.

I cannot understand how he can watch that crap!

Vulpixx · 16-12-09, 11:46 PM

I know what you mean. The drinking culture of Britain has become a norm, accepted. My parents certainly don't mind me drinking, even encouraged it. It is the "done thing", a rite of passage. But tbh, some may consider that a good thing? For rebelling against societies expectations is more dangerous. If drinking was more frowned upon, then perhaps we would have an even more serious problem with binge drinking? Like was seen with cannabis.

Anyway I think the more serious problem of drinking lies with the cheap sweet tasting booze like WKD and Strongbow. It used to be that to get drunk you'd have to down bitter tasting pints, but now you can't even tell if it is alcohol you are drinking.

Simmo · 17-12-09, 12:17 AM

The more concerned we become with alcohol, the worse binge-drinking will become imo.

Counties like Greece with a more relaxed drinking policy such as a lower drinking age have less problems than the UK.

waf43 · 17-12-09, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkeyegg

I guess it's cos it is centred around a pub. It's better than the recent trend Corrie has shown of trying to increase viewers by having Rosie Webster half naked all the time.

I myself liked that .....

....... lots

Apparently its not just rosie... next week theres an episode involving a half naked betty and a rampant rabbit!!

Simon · 17-12-09, 11:54 AM

I understand your point, i havnt watched it for many years (stopped just after that guy tried to kill his family and everyone by gassing them in the garage and driving them into the canal?) but it sounds like it hasnt changed much at all.

Maybe you should write into the ITV version of points of view if such a thing exists! Was worth reading this thread just to be able to google rosie webster - dam shes all grown up now! Might actually be worth watching it occasionally now

28-11-09, 07:18 PM	#1
TEMPLE3188 iPod 30gb Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,227	Coronation Street & Alcohol Today, I sat down with my girlfriend to watch some TV with her, generally just to spend some time with her after feeling sorry because I am always on the computer. She decided to watch Coronation Street (Corrie), after about 10 minutes of actually watching the show I couldn't believe how many references to alcohol there actually was! In the morning, lunch, evening and night, people are at the pub drinking pints, the women who work in the factory drink pints 24/7, Vicky and the butchers wife pick up kids from school and immediately drink at the pub, the ginger family putting up Christmas decorations are all drinking cans of beer, the list could go on..... This was one episode I watched, and people wonder why we have binge drinkers, underage drinkers? I couldn't believe what I was seeing, if people actually drank as much as everyone on this show during the day and week surely they would be alcoholics!? ...and dead by they're 50. It's not the references to alcohol that got me thinking, it's the casual approach to so much alcohol, there's barely a time on the show where people aren't just talking without walking to the pub, being in the pub, or walking out of the pub. I googled and was expecting to see something on the topic mentioned in the news i.e. BBC and there was nothing, well nothing that I could find. Which got me thinking, does the government really rely so much on these 'Soaps' to preoccupy people from their daily lives so much that they are afraid to battle them in case the community actually finds something else to do such as wonder why they slave 5 days a week just to 'get by' with their bills, tax etc? What's everybody elses opinion on this? Just couldn't believe what I was seeing to be honest, the amount of drinking would put people in commas. __________________ Free iPhone \| Free PS3 \| Macbook \| Free iPod \| Record Xbox 360 gameplay Last edited by TEMPLE3188; 28-11-09 at 07:20 PM..

28-11-09, 07:40 PM	#3
Monkeyegg FJ Network Owner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,934	I guess it's cos it is centred around a pub. It's better than the recent trend Corrie has shown of trying to increase viewers by having Rosie Webster half naked all the time. __________________ Consoles \| Apple \| HDTV \| PS3 \| Mobiles \| Sports \| Gadgets \| Points \| Gifts \| Select Supported Network of the Year 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 Supported Network of the Year (Design) 2008

28-11-09, 07:41 PM	#5
Gregm iPod 30gb Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perthshire, Scotland Posts: 1,219	or even comas, but yes you are right, unfortunately the pub is the centre point of the show son it is used to connect everyone __________________ Join the Gadgets FJ Conga! Free Dyson DC25 http://becauseim-free.blogspot.com/

28-11-09, 08:06 PM	#10
az87aris Mini Mac Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 4,784	I can't see many youngsters watching soaps anyway tbh, and i can't see soaps leading to binge drinking. If someone is going to have a drink then they're going to have a drink. I think it's bonkers that anyone would think people would be influenced so much by a soap they'd become an alcoholic. __________________ Free iPhone 4S \| Free iPad 2 \| Free iPod \| Free Amazon Vouchers

17-12-09, 11:54 AM	#17
Simon Mini Mac Join Date: May 2005 Location: London Posts: 6,321	I understand your point, i havnt watched it for many years (stopped just after that guy tried to kill his family and everyone by gassing them in the garage and driving them into the canal?) but it sounds like it hasnt changed much at all. Maybe you should write into the ITV version of points of view if such a thing exists! Was worth reading this thread just to be able to google rosie webster - dam shes all grown up now! Might actually be worth watching it occasionally now __________________ *Viewing as a guest?? Click here to join the forum (Its FREE!!)* Spoiler Received 20gb iPod (FP), iPod in-ear earphones (MFG), iPod nano 4gb (FP), £100 PayPal (FG), £150 Capital Bonds (FP), Canon Ixus 800IS (FP), Noise Magnets (FM), 2 mopod's (FF4U), DSLite + game (FJ), TomTom One V4 (FJ), £12 amazon GC (FJ), Pure DAB One (FJ), Planet earth HD DVD (FJ), Cordless strimmer (FJ), 2gb microSD (FJ), £25 BT (FJ), FamilyGuy 1-6 (FJ), iPod nano 8gb (FJ), Creative earphones (FJ), Gavin & Stacey S1 (FJ), 360 Stuff (FJ), £645 BT (FJ), PS3 80GB (IN), DS3 (IN), £100 BT (FJ), Wii and Mario Kart (FJ), Dyson Ball (FJ), LV S3 (FJ), PlayTV (FJ), £10 GC (FJ), £10 GC (FJ), SE K770i + 2gb M2, SonicBomb alarm clock + Coin saving jar (FJ), £102 BT (FJ), iPod shuffle 1gb (FF4U), £399.99 BT (FJ), Samsung NC10 (FJ), 320GB HDD + enclosure (FJ), Oral-B Triumph + brushes (FJ), MP3 + DVD's (FJ), Philips shaver (FJ), Watch, computer bits etc (FJ) Total Recieved = £4621

28-11-09, 07:24 PM	#2
kili iPod Nano 4GB Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London Posts: 208	haha now you mention it... I haven't noticed it before but yes you are right. far too much drinking for what is essentially a family show

28-11-09, 07:56 PM	#6
gpow iPod 20gb Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Essex Posts: 745	Well they are not binge drinking, they are just having a drink after work and for lunch everyday of the week haha. Its not like everyone is walking around pissed up lol.

28-11-09, 08:02 PM	#8
joewarne Mini Mac Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Great Yarmouth Posts: 4,742	This is what i was talking about in the other thread (the one about prices going down), alcohol is so bread into the culture youngsters have no choice really but to have a drink.

28-11-09, 08:20 PM	#11
gpow iPod 20gb Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Essex Posts: 745	Most communities are centred round pubs anyways, especially in the settings they are located in. How do you think the writers get the ideas.

16-12-09, 11:46 PM	#14
Vulpixx iPod Shuffle Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6	I know what you mean. The drinking culture of Britain has become a norm, accepted. My parents certainly don't mind me drinking, even encouraged it. It is the "done thing", a rite of passage. But tbh, some may consider that a good thing? For rebelling against societies expectations is more dangerous. If drinking was more frowned upon, then perhaps we would have an even more serious problem with binge drinking? Like was seen with cannabis. Anyway I think the more serious problem of drinking lies with the cheap sweet tasting booze like WKD and Strongbow. It used to be that to get drunk you'd have to down bitter tasting pints, but now you can't even tell if it is alcohol you are drinking.

17-12-09, 12:17 AM	#15
Simmo iPod 30gb Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,406	The more concerned we become with alcohol, the worse binge-drinking will become imo. Counties like Greece with a more relaxed drinking policy such as a lower drinking age have less problems than the UK.