Radio DJs 'encourage heavy drinking' - study » Health » 24dash.com

Radio presenters - including BBC Radio 1's Chris Moyles - widely encourage drinking, according to a government-funded study out today.

Research into 1,200 hours of radio output uncovered 703 extracts containing references to alcohol.

Of these, 179 involved comments made by presenters and another 45 were comments initiated by co-presenters, studio guests and members of the audience.

DJs were found to use language that celebrated excessive drinking and one show was titled "The Morning After" with the jingle "If you're hungover from the night before, listen to (presenters) Tim and Kate".

Experts from the University of the West of England noted that three-quarters (73%) of all the comments made about alcohol encouraged drinking, of which 13% promoted excessive drinking.

The study focused on BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, Kiss 101 broadcasting to the South West and Wales, Key 103 for Greater Manchester, Galaxy Birmingham and Kerrang! Radio for the West Midlands.

The authors said the extent to which alcohol was promoted varied across the stations.

And they said presenters were not solely to blame as comments about alcohol often "reflect particular production values".

Alcohol was often related to the "branding" of a show and was used to build relationships between presenters and listeners.

Professor Norma Daykin, who led the research, said: "Our research suggests that comments about alcohol contribute to the identification and branding of radio output for many stations, as well as being used in an effort to strengthen interactivity between presenters and listeners.

"But we also found examples which proved that making such comments is not necessary, as some presenters were able to successfully create identity and connect with young listeners without mentioning drinking.

"This suggests radio presenters and producers have a choice: they don't have to encourage drinking to be seen as 'cool' or in touch with their listeners."

The study was funded by the Department of Health and the Home Office as part of the Know Your Limits campaign.

The researchers noted that commercial radio stations were worse offenders than the BBC, with Kerrang! Radio being particularly likely to encourage excessive drinking.

Alcohol references were also influenced by music genre, with hip-hop and black music stations such as 1Xtra and Kiss 101 having fewer comments.

On the BBC stations, almost half of the alcohol-related comments were either neutral or discouraged excessive drinking, whereas this was true of only 17% of the comments on commercial radio.

The Chris Moyles show was an exception, with alcohol references across a three-and-a-half hour show amounting to 74 seconds.

One exchange involved Moyles (pictured) and chef Gordon Ramsay talking about going drinking.

Moyles suggested the pair go for a few beers but Ramsay said they will go for "a pint".

Moyles replied: "One pint?....Likely. Why don't you let me take you out for a few beers and then one of the famous kebabs from the local kebab shop near me?"

Ramsay reiterated that he would have one pint and that it would be after midnight, before Comedy Dave interjected and said: "They serve beer until four as long as it is only in cans because you don't get glasses after three, I don't think, for safety reasons."

A Radio 1 spokesman said: "We don't agree that our presenters encourage a culture of drinking. In fact, throughout this week we have run a high profile campaign on the radio and online asking listeners to think about the amount of alcohol they drink and how it could affect their health, looks and behaviour."

A spokesman for Kerrang! Radio said: "As a sensible broadcaster, Kerrang! Radio works hand-in-hand with Ofcom to ensure that it operates within broadcasting regulations.

"This report was compiled during the festive party season, and yet average mentions of alcohol equated to once every four hours which, particularly at that time of year, is probably less than most people would hear in workplaces up and down the country."

A spokeswoman for Key 103 said: "This report surveyed just six stations out of 389 stations in the UK and was compiled over a period containing the festive party season, therefore not reflecting the overall output of the station over a 12 month period.

"Throughout the year, Key 103 works with a variety of clients on responsible drinking campaigns whether that be anti-drink driving, NHS drink awareness or local police trade initiatives to encourage safe drinking and licensing."

The Ofcom Broadcasting Code states that the misuse of alcohol should not be glamorised in programmes likely to be heard by the under-18s.

It says it "must generally be avoided and in any case must not be condoned, encouraged or glamorised in other programmes broadcast before the watershed, or when children are particularly likely to be listening, unless there is editorial justification".

It also "must not be condoned, encouraged or glamorised in other programmes likely to be widely seen or heard by under-18s unless there is editorial justification".

The research, which focused on radio programmes broadcast between December 2007 and February this year, will be presented at the British Sociological Association annual conference in Brighton today.