Exposure to Alcohol Use in Movies and Problematic Use of Alcohol

Whether it’s the four Sex and the City gals ordering their mandatory Cosmos at brunch or a moody detective sipping on bourbon at the bar before chasing down a criminal, alcohol is a TV staple. It’s there in our favorite shows, and it’s there on the big screen. And no matter how unrealistic some of those portrayals might be (who really has the energy and wherewithal to take down a Mafia don after a few drinks?), we get used to it. But how does seeing movies with alcohol really affect us? And what about the often unrealistic depiction of alcoholic characters in movies? Let’s dig deeper.

Alcohol on the Big Screen

When it comes to seeing alcoholics in movies (and movies with alcohol in general), a particular area of concern is about how it influences young viewers. Scientists have looked into the matter, and the results seem clear: more exposure to alcohol in the movies means more drinking in our teenage years. 

For example, a Dartmouth University study showed that “teens who watched the most movies featuring alcohol were twice as likely to start drinking as those who watched the least.” Even worse, they were “63 percent more likely to progress to binge drinking,” suggesting that seeing booze in the movies had a tangible real-world effect.  

The same is true across the border. A study that looked at adolescents in Latin America found similar results: being exposed to alcohol in movies was linked with “trying alcohol, current drinking, and binge drinking in Mexican adolescents.” In Argentina, on the other hand, exposure had a milder effect and was mostly associated with trying alcohol. Still, the results paint a clear picture — more exposure means more drinking.

And it’s not just the kids that are affected — we’re all prone to internalizing what we see in our favorite shows and movies. After a while, those cocktails at lunch, that glass (or bottle) of wine with a casual dinner, and that “funny” drunk at the bar in a slapstick comedy all start feeling like normal. And whether we want to or not, we start copying what we see — it’s human nature.

But how exactly does drinking get normalized on the screen in front of us? Let’s explore some specific scenarios that commonly appear as plot lines or character tropes.

1. TV Shows and Movies With Alcohol in the Background

One of the sneakiest ways for alcohol to seep into our subconscious is simply by being a constant presence in the background. When every dinner, date, or work meeting we watch our beloved characters have is accompanied by booze, the result is a powerful illusion: it looks like everyone drinks all the time.

While all genres from comedies to thrillers are susceptible, the effect is especially strong if the movie or TV show is actually set in a bar. There’s a whole slew of those, from the beloved Boston-based Cheers to the modern It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. 

• Cheers (1982). It’s named after a bar, it’s set in a bar, and pretty much everything that happens either happens in the bar or to people who work there (including the “regulars”). And while the setup does make it look like most people drink most of the time, what saves Cheers from being too harmful is the teetotaler protagonist. So at least we know there are exception: there’s at least one person who doesn’t drink (and he seems to be totally at peace with it).
• It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005). While what saves Cheers is the light at the end of the tunnel, what saves this one is actually the darkness. The characters in this bar-themed sitcom progress toward an inevitably dire state, getting into more serious trouble (and looking all the worse for it) with every season.
• Coyote Ugly (2000). Unlike Cheers, Coyote Ugly is a place where everyone drinks, including the bartenders. That’s part of the point, of course, but still — the end result is that drinking (binge drinking in particular) gets normalized to an unhealthy degree. 

In all of these movies and shows, alcohol forms the background of pretty much every scene. It’s ever-present, creating the illusion that it’s the norm to be surrounded by booze.

Of course, in reality this is far from the case! A crucial fact to remember (we’ll keep coming back to this) is that while the characters are drinking all the time, the actors are not. Real-life drinking doesn’t blend nearly as smoothly into everyday life and doesn’t always look quite so “sunny” or “cheerful.”

2. TV Shows and Movies With Alcohol as the Social Glue

Another potential problem? Movies and shows that portray alcohol as a social lubricant. We all know those scenes where an awkward, shy character takes a couple of shots at a party and suddenly transforms into a social butterfly, instantly losing every trace of social anxiety. Other times, the effect is more subtle: all the socializing simply only takes place over drinks. 

• Sex and the City (1998). Every episode has several rounds of Cosmos; interestingly, one of the main stars is a recovering alcoholic. Kristin Davis, who plays Charlotte on the show, has been open in interviews about her years-long struggle with alcoholism — as well as her continued recovery.
  
  ‍According to a CBS interview with medical correspondent Jennifer Ashton, the “Sex and the City syndrome” is “something we’re seeing more and more.” For one thing, Cosmos came back with a bang. But there are darker repercussions as well. Ashton even links the increase in drunk driving accidents since 1998 to it, noting that women in particular “are drinking more fruity drinks, which may taste good, but can be risky.” Why? They tend to hit us a lot faster, making it easy to lose track of how many we’ve had.
• How I Met Your Mother (2005). While this one isn’t set in a bar, it might as well be. This popular comedy series is a bit like an updated version of Friends with rounds of beer at a neighborhood joint taking the place of coffee at Central Perk: the main characters are always there, and socializing is based on drinking together. As a result, “social drinking” (that actually crosses the line into problem drinking, especially since it seems to happen every night of the week) gets normalized.

The portrayal of alcohol as the social glue creates the illusion that we “need” it to have fun and engage with others. But while many movies and shows might imply that drinking and socializing go hand in hand, in reality, the opposite is actually true! Booze might make us feel as if we’re the life of the party, but this isn’t always the case. Just think of that friend who always launches into a monologue about their latest business idea or “funny” story about their college roommate when they get a bit tipsy.

Research backs up the idea that alcohol isn’t quite the social glue we might take it for. For example, a Clinical Psychological Science eye-tracking study showed that people who had a drink before a virtual social event over Zoom spent more time watching themselves during “social hour” than they did looking at their conversation partners. (It’s safe to say that watching yourself on the screen doesn’t cut it as “quality time” with others!) Even worse, the drinkers seemed to have less fun, reporting more negative feelings after the boozy chat.

(Want to get your hands on some go-to lines and other ways to avoid getting pressured into “social drinking”? Check out our blog “Drinking With Friends: How To Avoid Peer Pressure When You Cut Back.”)

3. Movies With Alcohol as Fuel for Romance

And then there’s the idea that we need alcohol to ignite that romantic spark. The link between booze and romance actually goes way back to the days of glory days of Hollywood.

• Casablanca (1942). While this timeless classic is all about the nuances of human emotion and intangible qualities of love, everything unfolds against the backdrop of Rick's Café and its ever-flowing cocktails. The iconic line, "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine," ties alcohol to the emotional landscape in a way that’s subtle yet pervasive.
• Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011). This romantic comedy is all about Cal’s self-discovery with the help of a friend after an unexpected divorce. The problem? It’s all about booze. Cal’s new “mentor,” Jacob, helps him improve his romantic game with alcohol as a necessary component that helps him regain his confidence. Needless to say, the message seems to be that you need booze for romantic success.

Once again, though, real-life romance looks very different than it does in the movies, and alcohol plays a much less charming role in it. In reality, alcohol lowers libido and often takes away from the romantic mood it promises to set. Even worse, studies have consistently shown a link between alcohol and sexual violence. 

(Need some booze-free romantic night ideas? Take a look at “Seven Sober Dates: Impress Your Special Someone With a Sober Valentine's Day Plan.”)

4. Alcoholics in Movies: The “Funny Drunk”

And now, meet the “funny drunk” — that “charming” goofball who will giggle during a church service, tell off his mother-in-law over Thanksgiving dinner, or burst out in song during a formal piano recital.

• Arthur (1981). This one is an OG “funny drunk.” Don’t confuse it with the children’s TV show of the same name; this film stars Dudley Moore as Arthur, a “lovable” billionaire who clearly has a problem that’s a bit too serious for laughs — we meet him when he is driving drunk. Sure, he shows some signs of awareness about his problem. Still, drunk driving and similar antics just aren’t funny, no matter how cute you are.  
• Animal House (1978). In this cult classic about a rowdy fraternity house, heavy drinking takes center stage. As Bob Mondello observes on NPR’s “Pop Culture Happy Hour, “Animal House, in fact, reveled in the destructive side of drinking. Its humor is in the mess being made by loud, reckless alcoholics in training.” While it might be a classic case of "funny because it’s not happening to us," it does make us wonder if the laughter comes at a price that’s a bit too steep.

As we already mentioned before, those “funny” stories told over rounds of drinks are often only funny to the one who is telling them, especially if others aren’t quite as far gone. More often than not, we might actually miss the more subtle (and more satisfying) funny moments in life when we’re under the influence. (And that’s a shame!)

Realistic Portrayals of Alcoholics in Movies and TV Shows

As it turns out, however, not all portrayals of alcohol use in movies are a bust — there are many that show the cycle of dependence accurately. 

• Flight (2012). Although pilot Whip Whitaker certainly qualifies as an addict, he coasts by (no pun intended) — until he doesn’t. This is how addiction often works in real life: we might function for a long time, until suddenly our life falls apart, sometimes at an alarming rate. In Whitaker’s case, this means a disastrous crash that ends up with six lives lost and Whitaker vowing to leave booze behind. Unfortunately, as often happens in life, it’s not the end of his problems.
• Walk the Line (2005). In this classic about Johnny Cash’s journey through life and addiction, we get an inside peek at how alcohol (and pills, in Cash’s case) threaten to destroy what is acknowledged by many as a one-of-a-kind musical treasure. The film shows the reality behind the volatile combo of addiction and artistic pursuits. 
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017). Wait, doesn’t she start her career by doing a stand-up routine after drowning her sorrows in a bottle that she carries on stage? And then she continues to pregame after each subsequent performance? Yes, but stay with us here. While Mrs. Maisel does rely on booze to power her performances at the beginning, she eventually outgrows this “crutch” and realizes that she’s funnier without it.

Mrs. Maisel in particular is a fitting case to close with, since her situation also brings up an important point about the actors in movies with alcohol: they’re not drunk. To portray someone losing touch with reality in a drunken haze requires them to have their wits about them.

Tips To Stay Safe and Enjoy the Show

So how can you keep the portrayal of alcohol in movies from rubbing off on you and leading to real-life problems? Here are a few ideas:

1. Remember that it’s fiction. It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget. Especially when the acting is good, we can naturally take what we see on the screen as reality. But it’s not!
2. Switch it up. There’s nothing wrong with switching it up and watching a nature show once in a while. Polar bears and birds of paradise probably won’t be getting drunk (though you’d be surprised about hummingbirds, bats, and bees).
3. Throw in some good documentaries. To keep things in perspective, watch some documentaries about real-life struggles that people have with alcohol, drugs, or other addictive behaviors. Some good ones to check out are Ben: Diary Of A Heroin Addict, Recovery Boys, and Addicted: America’s Opioid Crisis.
4. Talk to your kids. Be open with your children about what they see on the screen. An honest conversation about the realities of booze and the risks that come with it can make all the difference!

And remember, no matter how realistic it seems, it’s only a movie!

Summing Up

In the end, it’s important to be mindful of what we watch. We’re not saying you should turn off the TV or stomp out of the theater at the first signs of problematic drinking, but keep in mind that what you’re seeing on the screen isn’t reality. Also, keep discovering new genres and types of content to watch, allowing your tastes to evolve as your relationship with alcohol changes. There’s so much to discover — both when it comes to movies and to booze-free activities alike!