Study shows Bachelor in Paradise heavy handed on booze

Researchers from the 成人大片 and SAHMRI are calling for stronger regulation of how alcohol use is depicted on TV after an in-depth study of the reality show Bachelor in Paradise.

Researchers from the 成人大片 and SAHMRI are calling for stronger regulation of how alcohol use is depicted on TV after an in-depth study of the reality show Bachelor in Paradise.


The research, published in Alcohol and Alcoholism, led by 成人大片 NHMRC Early Career Fellow and Deputy Director of SAHMRI Health Policy Centre, Dr Jacqueline Bowden, focused on the first series of the Network Ten dating show, which launches its third season this week. The team divided each episode into one-minute intervals, then catalogued the depictions of alcohol in each segment.


鈥淎lcohol was shown or referenced in more than 70% of the one-minute intervals across each of the show鈥檚 16-episode series,鈥 Dr Bowden said.


The first depiction of alcohol also occurred in the first or second interval of all 16 episodes and was twice as prevalent as non-alcoholic content.


Harmful alcohol consumption has been causally linked to over 200 health conditions, costs the Australian community approximately $36 billion per annum, and causes over 5500 deaths a year.
Dr Bowden says the high volume of alcohol content in Bachelor in Paradise was concerning, especially for children, young adults and other vulnerable viewers.

鈥淲e weren鈥檛 shocked that reality shows depict drinking but the fact it was so widespread in this program is very concerning and sends the wrong message to young people and the community about drinking,鈥欌NHMRC Early Career Fellow and Deputy Director of SAHMRI Health Policy Centre, Dr Jacqueline Bowden


Viewer demographics show there were 47,000 viewers in the 6-17 year-old age bracket, and 81,000 viewers aged 18-24.


鈥淲e weren鈥檛 shocked that reality shows depict drinking but the fact it was so widespread in this program is very concerning and sends the wrong message to young people and the community about drinking,鈥欌 she said.


鈥淎lcohol remains the leading cause of death and disability in 15-24 year-olds globally and hospital emergency presentations are increasing in this age group in Australia.


鈥淗igher exposure to traditional forms of alcohol marketing among young people is associated with increased alcohol uptake, increased consumption and increased binging and hazardous drinking levels. This is also likely to be the case for reality TV shows.鈥


Dr Bowden says the prevalence of alcohol in Bachelor in Paradise gives the impression that drinking is more prevalent among young people than it really is.


鈥淚n terms of alcohol use, this 鈥榬eality鈥 show doesn鈥檛 match reality and there are unintended consequences to that,鈥 she said.听


鈥淧roducers of reality TV shows such as this should be cognisant that portraying alcohol products like this glamorises drinking for young people,鈥欌 she said.


鈥淭he results of this study support calls for a regulatory regime by government that protects young people more effectively from exposure to alcohol, capturing both traditional forms of advertising and also non-traditional forms like those captured in TV and movies.鈥

Tagged in alcohol, binge drinking, Bachelor in Paradise, regulations