Peer pressure—a recurring theme in coming of age stories. The protagonist’s boundaries are tested, stretched to the limits by their trustworthy (or untrustworthy) companions. Underage drinking, the most prevalent example of this theme, visibly appears in countless stories across all media. Commonplace, depictions of alcohol in general have been limited in many ways in film and television. Furthermore, alcohol consumption in movies and TV tends to portray itself in confusing ways that can be interpreted incorrectly by impressionable teens. Clearly, the portrayal of alcohol in movies and the age restrictions on said movies directly contradict, thereby demonstrating the controversial world that is “drinking on film”.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) details the criteria for age ratings on movies based on things like levels of violence, nudity, and of course, drug abuse. Alcohol use by adults is not included among these qualifications—instead, these depictions technically can receive both G and PG ratings. Portraying underage drinking in a positive light, however, can contribute to a more mature rating. According to studies by the National Library of Medicine, a large majority of some of the most popular movies contain a lead character drinking, usually associating the act with positivity and luxury. Additionally, roughly 57% of all films with alcohol references indicate little to no consequences as a result of the behavior. Another study revealed that even the aforementioned G and PG films can’t escape alcohol visibility, with approximately one fifth of a random assortment of these family friendly productions indicating specific alcohol brands. These statistics reveal a major pitfall in the rating system: the prevalence of alcohol isn’t tied down to adult-oriented movies. Alcohol obviously isn’t inherently a bad thing, but when it’s so commonly portrayed in a positive light in mainstream movies and even given brand deals for major motion pictures, it inevitably exposes this concept of normalized drinking to many young viewers. Therefore, the MPAA’s system definitely lets the commonality of alcohol slip into more movies than it intends to.
The ways teens interpret the events unfolding on their screens can have an even greater impact on underage drinking. Different adolescents may have different understandings of the realism, or rather the real-life consequences, of the drinking occurring on their screens. The Recovery Village claims that regularly watching media depicting alcohol consumption can eventually double the likelihood of the viewer indulging in alcohol themself. Spending more time with something will ultimately make that thing feel more safe and normal, even if that time spent was with a pre-recorded, scripted rendition of the thing. By spending time with characters who have fun or ‘let loose’ while drinking, teens may feel more inclined to drink themselves.
A lot of people point fingers at the storytellers behind hit teen comedies like Superbad, or dramatic, disturbing series like Euphoria, as the perpetrators behind this conflict. These stories include alcohol abuse as key plotpoints. I personally don’t see any reason to blame these people. None of these stories contain the message “go out and drink”. Unfortunately, in some cases, an impressionable young mind might end up with this takeaway. Underage drinking has existed since long before depictions in media became more commonplace. The stories we see in movies and television reflect real life—not the other way around. Just because these realities appear more visible in fiction doesn’t mean it’s because of these stories that this cycle continues. In fact, these stories give us insight into why these things happen. Both the humorous lighthearted perspective of Superbad and the dark and heartbreaking horrors of Euphoria offer a necessary outlook on what the consumption of alcohol looks like from the perspective of a troubled teenager.
Ultimately, movies will always portray alcohol as it has an unavoidable presence in life. While restrictions could be implemented to better limit the viewership of certain brands and drinking-based scenarios at a young age, it’s also important to note that media literacy plays a big role in “drinking on film”. Maybe a character faces no consequences for making poor decisions under the influence of alcohol, but that doesn’t mean you, the viewer, can also avoid consequences. Sometimes movies can feel like a direct parallel to life, and that’s exactly what they are. However, it’s important to remember, the portrayal of drinking in movies will not turn out the same in real life.