Radio DJs 'promote heavy drinking'

Radio presenters - including BBC Radio 1's Chris Moyles - widely encourage drinking, according to a Government-funded study.

Research into 1,200 hours of radio output uncovered 703 extracts containing references to alcohol.

Of these, 179 involved comments made by presenters and another 45 were comments initiated by co-presenters, studio guests and members of the audience.

DJs were found to use language that celebrated excessive drinking and one show was titled "The Morning After" with the jingle "If you're hungover from the night before, listen to (presenters) Tim and Kate".

Experts from the University of the West of England noted that three-quarters (73%) of all the comments made about alcohol encouraged drinking, of which 13% promoted excessive drinking.

The study focused on BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, Kiss 101 broadcasting to the South West and Wales, Key 103 for Greater Manchester, Galaxy Birmingham and Kerrang! Radio for the West Midlands.

The authors said the extent to which alcohol was promoted varied across the stations.

And they said presenters were not solely to blame as comments about alcohol often "reflect particular production values".

Alcohol was often related to the "branding" of a show and was used to build relationships between presenters and listeners.

Professor Norma Daykin, who led the research, said: "Our research suggests that comments about alcohol contribute to the identification and branding of radio output for many stations, as well as being used in an effort to strengthen interactivity between presenters and listeners."

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