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Should Soaps be more responsible about alcohol consumption?


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Old 06-07-2015, 07:05
Citizen Kane
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I appreciate that when many of our soaps first broadcast the pub was the local meeting place of that community. It makes perfect sense that the pub was the place most stories were hatched, developed and concluded. But...

There is no doubt that the over consumption of alcohol is a real problem in the UK. Should soaps be more responsible and divide the community hub between other venues?
They should definitely stop using binge drinking phrases - I'm going to get "slaughtered, plastered, paralytic" on a night out saying the over consumption of alcohol is the sole purpose of the night.

In Soapland no one gets a hangover, suffers medical issues, can't afford to pay bills or even eat due to the cost of drink. I'm not sure what salaries the characters are on but a night out is always affordable.

Some responsibility in your story settings and use of language!

Rosebud
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Old 06-07-2015, 08:48
cybersq
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I totally agree
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Old 06-07-2015, 08:54
Dr K Noisewater
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It always makes me laugh when a character is not drinking (usually because they're a recovering alcoholic or Muslim) they always order an orange juice. Never a coke or lemonade or any other soft drink a pub has to offer its always an orange juice.
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Old 06-07-2015, 09:18
MiniMeToo
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I appreciate that when many of our soaps first broadcast the pub was the local meeting place of that community. It makes perfect sense that the pub was the place most stories were hatched, developed and concluded. But...

There is no doubt that the over consumption of alcohol is a real problem in the UK. Should soaps be more responsible and divide the community hub between other venues?
They should definitely stop using binge drinking phrases - I'm going to get "slaughtered, plastered, paralytic" on a night out saying the over consumption of alcohol is the sole purpose of the night.

In Soapland no one gets a hangover, suffers medical issues, can't afford to pay bills or even eat due to the cost of drink. I'm not sure what salaries the characters are on but a night out is always affordable.

Some responsibility in your story settings and use of language!

Rosebud
you do realise soapland is not real don't you..
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Old 06-07-2015, 09:24
Citizen Kane
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It's also about the costs.
I notice what cocktails at the Albert cost. Two rounds of drinks for a small group of friends could set you back 60 pounds. Then the characters often move onto shots!

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Old 06-07-2015, 09:27
Citizen Kane
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I do know soapland is not real - but it is based on reality and should take responsibility for the lifestyle it is promoting as "normal".
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Old 06-07-2015, 09:46
kaiserbee
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No.

A soap has no responsibility for public lifestyle. It's fiction.

Fiction = not real.
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Old 06-07-2015, 09:49
bass55
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No. We don't need soaps preaching to us about healthy living, we get enough of that from the government. Soaps are supposed to be entertainment, not public service broadcasts.

And in any case, all of the soaps have featured stories about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
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Old 06-07-2015, 11:17
Justabloke
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No, its a soap.

It has a single responsibility and that is to be entertaining.

It is not social commentary, it is not guidance for how you should live your life, it is not a public health related body. It has no responsibility to even be particularly realistic (which none of them are BTW)

They are TV shows for entertainment purposes only.
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Old 06-07-2015, 11:18
Justabloke
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I do know soapland is not real - but it is based on reality and should take responsibility for the lifestyle it is promoting as "normal".
if you think soaps have any basis in reality then I urge you to A) Stop watching them and B) get out more.
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Old 06-07-2015, 11:39
Andybear
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Another no from me. I watch fictional soaps for a bit of entertainment after a hard day at work. If I want to watch something about real life I watch factual documentaries.
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Old 06-07-2015, 11:43
Fergie86
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I always wonder were soap characters get there money from, they spend all day every day in the pub, can't pay there bills and are generally skint but yet they are never short of money for a pint. In reality in real life 90% of soap characters would be raging Alcoholics.
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Old 06-07-2015, 12:52
Popsiemia
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And so do I.
I only watch Corrie and Emmerdale but have to say that alcohol plays a big part in both soaps.
It is not just in the pub either........ whenever there is a subject up for discussion, it is always accompanied by someone bringing in a bottle or two of wine!
As the original poster says, no-one seems to be hard up and can't pay bills (even Laurel & Marlon seem to manage, and I don't think the loan from Paddy will have bailed them out for very long either.
No-one seems worse for wear for excessive drinking and they all seem to do it on at least a couple of times a week.
I appreciate that in soaps the pub is the main hub, but it could be tapered down a bit.
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Old 06-07-2015, 13:02
LaraMitch
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No. I don't think a soap needs to show more responsibility with regards to alcohol consumption.
I think varying storylines do portray the affects of alcohol.
I do agree though that the amount everyone drinks the cost impact is never mentioned.
But let's be fair here it tries to be realistic but in general they need certain characters to interact... So that gives you a pub, a cafe, a shop...'all meeting points. Realistically the characters couldn't afford to drink in pub lunch time, evening, have breakfast in cafe all the time, buy groceries in corner shop.... All that the point of these places is that people interact, gossip, argue.... It's not a commentary on what they drink/eat but what happens when there.
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Old 06-07-2015, 13:07
Percy Sugden
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No, people are responsible for their own alcohol consumption not a fictional telly programme.
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Old 06-07-2015, 13:13
lady_xanax
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HO are quite good, as people have a variety of meeting places. For Emmerdale, it's a village so inevitably people will meet in the pub.
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Old 06-07-2015, 13:18
Whedonite
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People in real life talk about getting "paralytic" and "slaughtered" all the time though. You don't need to be an alcoholic to use those words. Would an alcoholic really announce that they plan to get drunk anyway?

What should the characters say when they plan on getting drunk? "I'm going to consume an overabundance of alcohol, that will hopefully lead to me getting absolutely tipsy"?
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Old 06-07-2015, 13:31
JohnDoe14
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I think it's a bit ridiculous that they can afford so much to drink and wake up for work the next morning happy and without a hangover.
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Old 06-07-2015, 13:37
Andybear
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And so do I.
I only watch Corrie and Emmerdale but have to say that alcohol plays a big part in both soaps.
It is not just in the pub either........ whenever there is a subject up for discussion, it is always accompanied by someone bringing in a bottle or two of wine!
As the original poster says, no-one seems to be hard up and can't pay bills (even Laurel & Marlon seem to manage, and I don't think the loan from Paddy will have bailed them out for very long either.
No-one seems worse for wear for excessive drinking and they all seem to do it on at least a couple of times a week.
I appreciate that in soaps the pub is the main hub, but it could be tapered down a bit.
BIB: Laurel does ..........
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Old 06-07-2015, 18:27
Peg ODwyer
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No. I don't think a soap needs to show more responsibility with regards to alcohol consumption.
I think varying storylines do portray the affects of alcohol.
I do agree though that the amount everyone drinks the cost impact is never mentioned.
But let's be fair here it tries to be realistic but in general they need certain characters to interact... So that gives you a pub, a cafe, a shop...'all meeting points. Realistically the characters couldn't afford to drink in pub lunch time, evening, have breakfast in cafe all the time, buy groceries in corner shop.... All that the point of these places is that people interact, gossip, argue.... It's not a commentary on what they drink/eat but what happens when there.
I agree, it is not just the pub that is unrealistic, on EE, it's all those teas, coffees, sarnies & buns at the cafe. They live about 3 doors down from the caf, yet will fork over a quid for a cuppa, instead of going home to make one. Roxy had a hangover last week, & they did deal with Laurens alcoholism too.
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Old 06-07-2015, 19:06
Peg ODwyer
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I'd rather spend my money on a glass of wine in the pub, than a cup of tea in the cafe, it's partly the atmosphere we pay for, & a cup of tea or coffee is boring (imo) when I worked, I always packed my lunch, & saved the money for other activities or things, so I am baffled by the constant trade at the cafe. And all those bacon sarnies lol I don't believe most people eat at cafs or drink in pubs, to the extent of these soaps, but it is not RL.
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Old 06-07-2015, 19:41
Emrys
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I do find it amazing how the factory crowd in Corrie drink at lunch time, then operate machinary (I know they're only sewing machines not big industrial machinary) in the afternoon.

And the vets in Emmerdale have a quick pink before neutering some poor animal.

Quite incredible really.
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Old 06-07-2015, 19:45
David Wright
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I've always thought it was ridiculous how the factory girls in CS spend like, two hours in the Rovers boozing every lunchtime and then head back to work to machine stitch gusset's seemingly having not adverse effect from their earlier boozing...
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Old 06-07-2015, 20:03
Peg ODwyer
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tis no wonder undies mever fit right anymore
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Old 06-07-2015, 20:06
Andybear
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I'd rather spend my money on a glass of wine in the pub, than a cup of tea in the cafe, it's partly the atmosphere we pay for, & a cup of tea or coffee is boring (imo) when I worked, I always packed my lunch, & saved the money for other activities or things, so I am baffled by the constant trade at the cafe. And all those bacon sarnies lol I don't believe most people eat at cafs or drink in pubs, to the extent of these soaps, but it is not RL.
Just because you prefer a glass of wine in the pub to a cup of tea in the cafe doesn't mean everyone else does. Everyone likes different things. Give me a bacon sandwich over a glass of wine any time.
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