Tobacco and alcohol content in soap operas broadcast on UK television: a content analysis and population exposure.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Exposure to tobacco and alcohol content in media is a risk factor for smoking and alcohol use in young people. Our previous research suggested that tobacco and alcohol imagery is common in soap operas. We now report an analysis of tobacco and alcohol content in a sample of soap operas broadcast in the UK.Methods
We used 1-minute interval coding to quantify tobacco and alcohol content in all episodes (including advertisement breaks) of six soap operas broadcast on UK television during three separate weeks in November and December 2018 and January 2019.Results
We coded 2222 intervals from 87 episodes and 360 intervals from 77 advertisement breaks. Tobacco content was rare, occurring in 4% of all intervals across 30% of episodes, the only tobacco appearances in adverts appeared in anti-smoking advertising. Alcohol occurred in 24% of intervals across 95% of episodes and in 13% of advertisement intervals. The programmes delivered ~381.28 million tobacco and 2.1 billion alcohol gross impressions to the UK population, including 18.91 million tobacco and 113 million alcohol gross impressions to children.Conclusion
Whilst tobacco was rare, alcohol content was common, resulting in billions of viewer impressions. Soap operas represent a potential driver of alcohol consumption in young people.
SUBMITTER: Barker AB
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8458014 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC6785681 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundEvidence suggests that health-related story lines in popular television programmes may lead to increased viewer knowledge or behaviour change. However, little is currently known about the portrayal of common health-related behaviours on UK television soap operas.MethodsThe portrayal of 11 key health-related behaviours on the 4 most popular soap operas set and broadcast in the UK over 4 weeks in spring 2005 was assessed.ResultsSeven of the 11 behaviours of interest were recorded a total of 959 times during 32 h of programming (or 30 behaviours per programming hour). The behaviour most frequently recorded was alcohol-related behaviours, recorded 619 times (19.3 per programming hour). No instances of four behaviours of interest were observed: driving soon after drinking, drinking during pregnancy, smoking during pregnancy or smoking around children.ConclusionsPopular television serials offer the chance to portray "healthy" behaviours as normal, and so help change attitudes and shape behavioural norms among the viewing public. Engaging the makers of these programmes in a health promotion agenda may be a fruitful method of promoting healthy behaviours.
| S-EPMC2465750 | biostudies-literature
Project description:OBJECTIVES:Exposure to alcohol imagery is associated with subsequent alcohol use among young people, and UK broadcasting regulations protect young people from advertising alcohol content in UK television. However, alcohol promotion during sporting events, a significant potential medium of advertising to children, is exempt. We report an analysis and estimate the UK population exposure to, alcohol content, including branding, in UK broadcasts of the 2018?Formula 1 (F1) Championship. SETTING:UK. PARTICIPANTS:None. Content analysis of broadcast footage of 21 2018?F1 Championship races on Channel 4, using 1-minute interval coding of any alcohol content, actual or implied use, other related content or branding. Census data and viewing figures were used to estimate gross and per capita alcohol impressions. RESULTS:Alcohol content occurred in all races, in 1613 (56%) 1-minute intervals of race footage and 44 (9%) of intervals across 28% of advertisement breaks. The most prominent content was branding, occurring in 51% of race intervals and 7% of advertisement break intervals, appearing predominantly on billboard advertisements around the track, with the Heineken and Johnnie Walker brands being particularly prominent. The 21 races delivered an estimated 3.9?billion alcohol gross impressions (95%?CI 3.6 to 4.3) to the UK population, including 154?million (95%?CI 124 to 184) to children, and 3.6?billion alcohol gross impressions of alcohol branding, including 141?million impressions to children. Branding was also shown in race footage from countries where alcohol promotion is prohibited. CONCLUSIONS:Alcohol content was highly prevalent in the 2018?F1 Championship broadcasts, delivering millions of alcohol impressions to young viewers. This exposure is likely to represent a significant driver of alcohol consumption among young people.
| S-EPMC7418687 | biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC7115965 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundExposure to tobacco and alcohol content in audio-visual media is a risk factor for smoking and alcohol use in young people. We report an analysis of tobacco and alcohol content, and estimates of population exposure to this content, in a sample of reality television programmes broadcast in the UK.MethodsWe used 1-minute interval coding to quantify tobacco and alcohol content in all episodes of five reality TV programmes aired between January and August 2018 (Celebrity Big Brother; Made in Chelsea; The Only Way is Essex; Geordie Shore and Love Island), and estimated population exposure using viewing data and UK population estimates.ResultsWe coded 5219 intervals from 112 episodes. Tobacco content appeared in 110 (2%) intervals in 20 (18%) episodes, and alcohol in 2212 (42%) intervals and in all episodes. The programmes delivered approximately 214 million tobacco gross impressions to the UK population, including 47.37 million to children; and for alcohol, 4.9 billion and 580 million respectively.ConclusionTobacco, and especially alcohol, content is common in reality TV. The popularity of these programmes with young people, and consequent exposure to tobacco and alcohol imagery, represents a potentially major driver of smoking and alcohol consumption.
| S-EPMC7435217 | biostudies-literature
Project description:AimsTo quantify tobacco and alcohol content, including branding, in popular contemporary YouTube music videos; and measure adolescent exposure to such content.DesignTen-second interval content analysis of alcohol, tobacco or electronic cigarette imagery in all UK Top 40 YouTube music videos during a 12-week period in 2013/14; on-line national survey of adolescent viewing of the 32 most popular high-content videos.SettingGreat Britain.ParticipantsA total of 2068 adolescents aged 11-18 years who completed an on-line survey.MeasurementsOccurrence of alcohol, tobacco and electronic cigarette use, implied use, paraphernalia or branding in music videos and proportions and estimated numbers of adolescents who had watched sampled videos.FindingsAlcohol imagery appeared in 45% [95% confidence interval (CI)?=?33-51%] of all videos, tobacco in 22% (95% CI?=?13-27%) and electronic cigarettes in 2% (95% CI?=?0-4%). Alcohol branding appeared in 7% (95% CI?=?2-11%) of videos, tobacco branding in 4% (95% CI?=?0-7%) and electronic cigarettes in 1% (95% CI?=?0-3%). The most frequently observed alcohol, tobacco and electronic cigarette brands were, respectively, Absolut Tune, Marlboro and E-Lites. At least one of the 32 most popular music videos containing alcohol or tobacco content had been seen by 81% (95% CI?=?79%, 83%) of adolescents surveyed, and of these 87% (95% CI?=?85%, 89%) had re-watched at least one video. The average number of videos seen was 7.1 (95% CI?=?6.8, 7.4). Girls were more likely to watch and also re-watch the videos than boys, P?<?0.001.ConclusionsPopular YouTube music videos watched by a large number of British adolescents, particularly girls, include significant tobacco and alcohol content, including branding.
| S-EPMC4402034 | biostudies-literature
Project description:With the rise in popularity of streaming platforms concerns about exposure to tobacco advertising and promotion have emerged. While tobacco marketing and promotion through traditional television (TV) media channels has been extensively studied, less is known about exposure to tobacco through TV or streaming platforms and its associated factors. To examine the prevalence and factors associated with exposure to tobacco products advertised, marketed, or promoted on TV or streaming platforms among US adults. This cross-sectional study used data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 6), conducted from March 7 to November 8, 2022. The nationally representative survey included noninstitutionalized civilian US adults. The primary outcome was self-reported exposure to tobacco advertisements, marketing, or promotion on TV or streaming platforms in the past 3 months. Factors associated with exposure were explored using multivariable survey logistic regression. The study included 5775 participants (3415 females [weighted percentage, 50.5%], 970 Hispanic individuals [weighted percentage, 16.9%], 872 non-Hispanic Black or African American individuals [11.1%], 3144 non-White individuals [61.5%], and 632 individuals who currently smoke [12.0%]). The estimated exposure to tobacco advertisements, marketing, or promotion on television or streaming platforms was 12.4% (95% CI, 10.8%-14.2%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that exposure odds were higher among those who had a level of education of high school or less (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.60; 95% CI, 1.08-2.37), individuals who currently smoke (aOR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.06-3.25), non-Hispanic Black or African American respondents (aOR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.40-3.45) and Hispanic respondents (aOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.04-2.42). In this study of the prevalence of exposure to tobacco advertisements on TV or streaming platforms among US adults, disparities in exposure by race or ethnicity, education level, and smoking status were identified. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions and regulation to address these disparities and reduce the impact of tobacco advertisements on vulnerable populations.
| S-EPMC11342133 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundWe estimate exposure of British adults and adolescents to tobacco and alcohol content from a sample of popular YouTube music videos.MethodsBritish viewing figures were generated from 2 representative online national surveys of adult and adolescent viewing of the 32 most popular videos containing content. 2068 adolescents aged 11-18?years (1010 boys, 1058 girls), and 2232 adults aged 19+years (1052 male, 1180 female) completed the surveys. We used the number of 10?s intervals in the 32 most popular videos containing content to estimate the number of impressions. We extrapolated gross and per capita impressions for the British population from census data and estimated numbers of adults and adolescents who had ever watched the sampled videos.ResultsFrom video release to the point of survey, the videos delivered an estimated 1006 million gross impressions of alcohol (95% CI 748 to 1264 million), and 203 million of tobacco (95% CI 151 to 255 million), to the British population. Per capita exposure was around 5 times higher for alcohol than for tobacco, and nearly 4 times higher in adolescents, who were exposed to an average of 52.1 (95% CI 43.4 to 60.9) and 10.5 (95% CI 8.8 to 12.3) alcohol and tobacco impressions, respectively, than in adults (14.1 (95% CI 10.2 to 18.1) and 2.9 (95% CI 2.1 to 3.6)). Exposure rates were higher in girls than in boys.ConclusionsYouTube music videos deliver millions of gross impressions of alcohol and tobacco content. Adolescents are exposed much more than adults. Music videos are a major global medium of exposure to such content.
| S-EPMC4853525 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesExposure to tobacco and alcohol content in audio-visual media is a risk factor for smoking and alcohol use in young people. Previous UK research has quantified tobacco and alcohol content in films and broadcast television but not that of video-on-demand (VOD) services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. Furthermore, it is not clear whether regulation by Dutch (Netflix) or UK (Amazon Prime) authorities results in differences in content. We report an analysis of tobacco and alcohol content in a sample of episodes from the most popular programmes from these two VOD providers, and compare findings with earlier studies of UK prime-time television content.SettingUK.ParticipantsNone. Content analysis of a sample of 50 episodes from the five highest rated series released on Netflix and Amazon Prime in 2016, using 1?min interval coding of any tobacco or alcohol content, actual or implied use, paraphernalia and branding.ResultsOf 2704 intervals coded, any tobacco content appeared in 353 (13%) from 37 (74%) episodes. Any alcohol content appeared in 363 (13%) intervals in 47 (94%) episodes. There were no significant differences between the two services, however the proportion of episodes containing tobacco and alcohol was significantly higher in VOD original programmes than those recorded in an earlier study of prime-time UK television.ConclusionsAudio-visual tobacco and alcohol content is common in VOD original programmes and represents a further source of exposure to imagery causing smoking uptake and alcohol use in young people. This appears to be equally true of services regulated in the UK and The Netherlands. Given that VOD services are consumed by a global audience, it appears likely that VOD content is an important global driver of tobacco and alcohol consumption.
| S-EPMC6398653 | biostudies-literature
Project description:AimTo examine the effects of tobacco control television advertisements with positive and negative emotional content on adult smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption.DesignAnalysis of monthly cross-sectional surveys using generalised additive models.SettingEngland.Participants60 000 adults aged 18 years or over living in England and interviewed in the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey from 2004 to 2010.MeasurementsCurrent smoking status, daily cigarette consumption, tobacco control gross rating points (GRPs-a measure of per capita advertising exposure), cigarette costliness, concurrent tobacco control policies, sociodemographic variables.ResultsAfter adjusting for cigarette costliness, other tobacco control policies and individual characteristics, we found that a 400-point increase in positive emotive GRPs was associated with 7% lower odds of smoking (odds ratio (OR) 0.93, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.98) 1 month later and a similar increase in negative emotive GRPs was significantly associated with 4% lower odds of smoking (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.92 to 0.999) 2 months later. An increase in negative emotive GRPs from 0 to 400 was also associated with a significant 3.3% (95% CI 1.1 to 5.6) decrease in average cigarette consumption. There was no evidence that the association between positive emotive GRPs and the outcomes differed depending on the intensity of negative emotive GRPs (and vice versa).ConclusionsThis is the first study to explore the effects of campaigns with different types of emotive content on adult smoking prevalence and consumption. It suggests that both types of campaign (positive and negative) are effective in reducing smoking prevalence, whereas consumption among smokers was only affected by campaigns evoking negative emotions.
| S-EPMC4717366 | biostudies-literature