DJs criticised for drink comments

Radio presenters criticised for promoting heavy drinking as being ‘cool' to their listeners.

Researchers from the University of the West of England which is based in Bristol looked at 1,200 hours of radio broadcasts across six BBC and commercial stations.

Of all of the comments regarding drinking alcohol only 50% encouraged but when only the presenters were looked at 73% of the comments encouraged drinking.

Chris Moyles of BBC Radio 1 was particularly criticised. The BBC said its presenters did not encourage drinking.

'Unthinkable'
The study, which looked at radio programmes aimed at young people broadcast between December 2007 and February this year, criticised DJs for using terms such as "ruined" and "lashed" and found that 13% of monitored comments encouraged excessive drinking.

The presenters were responsible for 244 of 703 comments made on air about alcohol.

In the cases where the presenters did not encourage drinking, most of them were neutral, but 2% were actually negative, giving reasons to limit drinking - such as safety, work and health.

The stations studied included Radio 1, the BBC's 1Xtra, Kiss 101, Key 103, Galaxy Birmingham and Kerrang! Radio.

In one radio segment Radio 1's breakfast show presenter Chris Moyles tried to persuade TV chef Gordon Ramsay to go for a drink.

When Mr Ramsay agreed to go for one pint, the presenter responded: "One pint [laughs]... 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."

Ben Cooper, head of programmes at BBC Radio 1 said: "We do have a responsibility to our audience, but I don't think we are getting this wrong.

He said Chris Moyles was a high-profile and "honest" broadcaster, who talked about many aspects of his life - including drinking.

The station has recently run a campaign on the radio and online asking listeners to think about the amount of alcohol they drink and how it could affect their health, behaviour and looks.

"Kerrang! Radio has never been found to be in breach of the broadcast rules surrounding alcohol consumption."

Friday 5th September 2008

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