This study, which involved 600 films and 5,000 students, is the only study of its kind every to be conducted.  Alarmingly, all researchers agreed that movies played a significant role in prompting children and teens to drink at a young age.

  Furthermore, says Dr. James Sargent, a professor of pediatric medicine at Dartmouth, the fact that alcohol is portrayed in a positive light causes even more problems, as teens often see alcohol in romantic scenes, used by adults to help relieve stress, or consumed at “fun” on-screen parties.

As researchers scanned movies for alcohol use, notes the article, they found alarming results, even in movies marked for general audiences.  In studying 600 contemporary movies, the conductors of the study found that alcohol was used in 52% of G-rated films, 89% of PG films, 93% for PG-13 and 95% for R-rated movies.  Researchers also calculated that the typical child who took part in the survey was exposed to about 8 hours of alcohol use through movies.

In the article, Sargent stressed the need for parents to limit movie viewing or to better monitor what their children are watching on the Big Screen or what they rent to watch at home.

"Each year that kids delay experimenting with alcohol can help them avoid some of the serious consequences that drinking at a young age can contribute to, including drinking and driving and alcohol dependence,” Sargent pointed out.