Alcohol Use on Gilmore Girls - possible spoilers

[MasBYUgal]

For the longest time the consumption of Alcohol on this show has really bothered me, but not enough to say anything about it.  I don't mean to be a prude, but alcohol is drunk a lot in this show.  Examples..

Every friday night dinner begins with drinks.  Then Lorelai or whomever else there always ends up driving home with no problems at all.  Has anyone else been worried about their safety driving home?  I don't know what the legal limit is in Connecticut or how much alcohol is in the drinks they have, but it slightly bothers me.

Then there is all of the drinking involved in the L&DB.  I really don't think all of them were of drinking age in the U.S.?  And Rory had clearly experienced alcohol way b4 she was 21.  I can turn my head at spring break, but some of the other scenes bug me.

I realize that adults have the responsibility to drink responsibility and that many can.  I also worry that this show has it as something that is no big deal and that concerns me a bit.  I was just curious what are everyone's thought and feelings are about this. 

[whatsername0137]

Every friday night dinner begins with drinks.  Then Lorelai or whomever else there always ends up driving home with no problems at all.  Has anyone else been worried about their safety driving home?  I don't know what the legal limit is in Connecticut or how much alcohol is in the drinks they have, but it slightly bothers me.

i never thought about that, but you know.... you are absolutely right.  i dont think that you sounds prudish at all.  everything you have mentioned is true.  very good and insightful post MasBYUgal.

[Kukalaka]

That's an interesting topic, Melissa. I have kind of a different view. But I think, it is because I am from Germany (I'll explain that later in my post).

Every friday night dinner begins with drinks.  Then Lorelai or whomever else there always ends up driving home with no problems at all.  Has anyone else been worried about their safety driving home?  I don't know what the legal limit is in Connecticut or how much alcohol is in the drinks they have, but it slightly bothers me.

That never bothered me, because most of the time, Lorelai only has one drink before dinner. I presume, those Friday Night Dinners take some time (a way longer than mine) and they probably have a coffee afterwards. I think, in this time, there's not much alcohol left in the blood.

Then there is all of the drinking involved in the L&DB.  I really don't think all of them were of drinking age in the U.S.?  And Rory had clearly experienced alcohol way b4 she was 21.  I can turn my head at spring break, but some of the other scenes bug me.

That didn't bothered me either, at least not very much. In Germany, legal drinking age is 18, but many teenagers start some years earlier. The government tries to control it, but since the don't control the age of people buying alcohol in the supermarkets, the problem won't be solved. I have heard many stories of friends who were really drunk before they got 18. I'm 26 and never have been drunk, mostly because I don't like the taste of alcohol, but also because I've seen people who were too drunk to remember anything the next morning. I never wanted to experience that. To me, it just seems realistic that they drink alcohol before they are allowed to. But since GG is a family show, they probably shouldn't show that.

[Erin]

I agree with you, MasBYUgal.  The alcohol use has bothered me as well, and I think mainly because it's treated so flippantly.  Rory definitely wasn't 21 when she had her first drink (Spring Break episode, anyone?), and Lorelai has always joked about it.  And there was the time they were all hungover from the Founder's Day Punch, and Lorelai, instead of at least acknowledging that they weren't smart about things, just bought Paris and Rory hangover food.  Perhaps this stems from her belief that Rory isn't going to do anything stupid, but it's not like Rory hasn't done other stupid things, and just because Rory may be able to drink in a way that doesn't harm anyone doesn't mean that others are the same.  I think it sends mixed messages to younger viewers, but it's hard for me to say they should take a harder stance on alcohol when the show isn't exactly claiming to be a "moral" one.  (Not to say that the show doesn't portray some positive values.)

[jinglesosborne]

It is a little unclear as to how much alcohol Lorelai drinks at Friday night dinners; I've often wondered too, because Lorelai is often clamouring for a drink to take the edge off dinner.  In fact, it's the first thing offered to Lorelai when she walks through the door (other than unsolicited criticism).  I do think they should be more careful to show that no one is drinking under the influence.

As a Canadian, I don't see anything wrong with the underage drinking, because the U.S. law is quite stringent.  In Canada, the age ranges from 18-19.  As well, underage drinking is the norm in high school, because quite frankly, at what other age do you want to walk up with a raging headache?

Like you Kukalaka, I'm 25 (well, not exactly 26) and I have never been drunk.  It seems a waste to drink something and throw it up again!  However, I tasted alcohol long before I was 19, so there isn't an increase in alcoholism due to underage drinking.  Any underage drinking on the show has never bothered me, because the characters actually live very clean lives, without partying five days every week, and using drugs in the bathroom.

I think that GG is a fabulous show because it isn't preachy.  I'm sure that many parents who keep their kids away from alcohol on TV also keep them away from promiscuity and mothers who have children out of wedlock.  This means the Ned Flanders kind of folk probably don't watch GG in their house.

So, ASP, if you're reading, please make it clear no one's driving under the influence.  Oh yes, and would it kill you to show a condom occasionally?  Thanks.

[Kukalaka]

So, ASP, if you're reading, please make it clear no one's driving under the influence.  Oh yes, and would it kill you to show a condom occasionally?  Thanks.

That made me laugh.

I do think they should be more careful to show that no one is drinking under the influence.

Agreed. But I've never had the feeling that Lorelai was drunk after a Friday Night Dinner.

[jinglesosborne]

Yeah, I never felt that Lorelai was driving under the influence.  And since Rory and Luke often drive as well, that means there is a designated driver somewhere!

[Dani257]

That never bothered me, because most of the time, Lorelai only has one drink before dinner. I presume, those Friday Night Dinners take some time (a way longer than mine) and they probably have a coffee afterwards. I think, in this time, there's not much alcohol left in the blood.

I agree.  Lorelai rarely drinks too much.  I don't drink myself, but I don't mind seeing someone drink on tv and also, I agree that by the time she drives home, the alchohol is out of her system.

That didn't bothered me either, at least not very much. In Germany, legal drinking age is 18, but many teenagers start some years earlier. The government tries to control it, but since the don't control the age of people buying alcohol in the supermarkets, the problem won't be solved. I have heard many stories of friends who were really drunk before they got 18. I'm 26 and never have been drunk, mostly because I don't like the taste of alcohol, but also because I've seen people who were too drunk to remember anything the next morning. I never wanted to experience that. To me, it just seems realistic that they drink alcohol before they are allowed to. But since GG is a family show, they probably shouldn't show that.

It's true.  People don't always obey the rules, and I don't think a show should pretend that they do.  Logan wouldn't be Logan if he didn't drink.  Rory sometimes does stupid things, and I think the show should reflect that.  And, since this show started out on the premise of being about a woman who had sex as a teenager and got pregnant and still managed to be a family show, I don't see why it shouldn't show people drinking just because it's a family show.  They're not just doing it for the heck of it, they're writing believable characters. 

I agree with you, MasBYUgal. The alcohol use has bothered me as well, and I think mainly because it's treated so flippantly. Rory definitely wasn't 21 when she had her first drink (Spring Break episode, anyone?), and Lorelai has always joked about it. And there was the time they were all hungover from the Founder's Day Punch, and Lorelai, instead of at least acknowledging that they weren't smart about things, just bought Paris and Rory hangover food. Perhaps this stems from her belief that Rory isn't going to do anything stupid, but it's not like Rory hasn't done other stupid things, and just because Rory may be able to drink in a way that doesn't harm anyone doesn't mean that others are the same. I think it sends mixed messages to younger viewers, but it's hard for me to say they should take a harder stance on alcohol when the show isn't exactly claiming to be a "moral" one. (Not to say that the show doesn't portray some positive values.)

Okay, for the first part, I think Lorelai is the type of mom to acknowledge that kids are going to do things that aren't always the best (especially since she can probably remember her childhood -including teenage years- better than other mothers of kids Rory's age) and with the Spring Break thing, she knew she couldn't stop Rory from drinking and forbidding her to would be pointless.  So, the best thing would be to tell her how so she wouldn't get hurt.  It was the same way with sex.  When she thought Rory was sleeping with Dean in season 1, she didn't tell her not to have sex, she said she was putting her on the pill.  And, there were the trojan man jokes.  Now, some parents would do the opposite and say that she shouldn't be drinking and having sex at all.  If I was a parent I'd probably be in the "don't do it" category myself.  But, I don't think Lorelai is quite as flippant as she seems.  It's like she said in Secrets and Loans, she makes jokes to lighten the mood, but she's actually very concerned and does her best to teach Rory and protect her.

The second part, do young viewers actually think that because Rory Gilmore, a fictional character drinks and doesn't hurt herself that means that it's the same with everyone?  Maybe I have too much faith in the intelligence of youth, but I would think that by the time any viewer is April's age at least (and I'd say earlier) they'd be able to separate what a character who doesn't exist does for a story and what they can do.  And, I'd be really surprised if someone who was actually Rory's age believed it.  Sure, they have kids who drink and do a lot worse, but I seriously doubt Gilmore Girls contributes to it.

[wanderinglilly]

having wine with dinner I don't see a problem with but if they really got drunk and then tryed to drive I might have a fit. I don't think anyone could imagine the show without luke or rory or lorelai.
but still they always seem to be carefull so for now I 'm good.

[HarvardRory]

I don't know I agree.  As others have pointed out, Lorelai usually drinks one drink before dinner and maybe one with the meal, then has coffe.  I think the writers made Lorelai drink because nobody would believe it if she didn't, and she's over thirty and well over the legal drinking age.

Lorelai is smart enough to know that telling Rory not to drink isn't going to work.  She knows that if she is too constraining (sp?), it will backfire, like it did when Emily tried to constrian her.  However, she wants to make sure that Rory is safe about it.  Conserning the Firelight Founders Day punch in "To Live or Let Diahrama", she knew that Rory was upset and having a tough time with her "relationship" with Logan, so she was very simpathetic.

I used to watch 7th Heavan, but now it's refreshing to see a show that isn't trying to teach you a lesson and where if someone drinks, it's not a huge family freakout.

I also think that AS-P was trying to make Rory a more rounded character, because she was nineteen and it's rare for anyone to act so girl-scouty all the time. (Although I perfer the girl scout Rory)

I think it's stupid that adults take drinking and smoking in tv and movies so seriously.  I am twelve, and I would never consider drinking underage, especially not because I saw it on GG.

[Dani257]

To me, alcohol really wasn't the main factor in "To Live and Let Diorama"  If Miss Patty hadn't spiked the punch, I don't think either Rory or Paris would have ended up drunk.  I mean, I don't think they would have gone looking for alcohol somewhere else.  They would have found another outlet for their frustrations.  I seriously doubt that if alcohol was openly served their that they would have drunk it.  Which might not make sense, seeing as they knew the punch was alcoholic, but I think the show wasn't trying to make a case of Rory and alcohol.

[unapologeticmocker]

The second part, do young viewers actually think that because Rory Gilmore, a fictional character drinks and doesn't hurt herself that means that it's the same with everyone?  Maybe I have too much faith in the intelligence of youth, but I would think that by the time any viewer is April's age at least (and I'd say earlier) they'd be able to separate what a character who doesn't exist does for a story and what they can do.  And, I'd be really surprised if someone who was actually Rory's age believed it.  Sure, they have kids who drink and do a lot worse, but I seriously doubt Gilmore Girls contributes to it.

In my school they start the don't do drugs or alcohol things in kindergarten(i'm so not kidding).  So I think if a kid says hey a can drink and not get hurt because pretend characters can then they are ignorant.  It's like someone blaming a video game for why they murdered someone. 



I also don't think lorelai is under the influenece when she drives home.  They have one drink usually and then the eat a meal including a salad, main course and desurt.  we know the girls can EAT so most of the alcohol is plobably absorbed by food.  I don't think she's an alocholic are anything and i don't think having them drink on the show is wrong.  Yes it is a family show, but 7th heaven which is also a family show has dealt with issues like teen pregnancy, alocholism, and sex.  All thos things are things gilmore girls deals with too just in a different way.

[Erin]

To me, alcohol really wasn't the main factor in "To Live and Let Diorama"  If Miss Patty hadn't spiked the punch, I don't think either Rory or Paris would have ended up drunk.  I mean, I don't think they would have gone looking for alcohol somewhere else.  They would have found another outlet for their frustrations.  I seriously doubt that if alcohol was openly served their that they would have drunk it.  Which might not make sense, seeing as they knew the punch was alcoholic, but I think the show wasn't trying to make a case of Rory and alcohol.

Hmm, I think that's a good point.  I don't think that they were trying to make alcohol the point of the show, either.  And you're probably right that they wouldn't have gone out looking for alcohol were it not in the punch. 

Tonight's episode was certainly a timely one for this topic, eh?  That was definitely a low point for Lorelai.

[jinglesosborne]

A good point against alcohol was definitely made!  Drink too much tequila and you'll end up embarrassing yourself in front of the town.  I think this was a realistic portrayal of alcohol, the depressant.  If you're already depressed, tequila ain't going to help - if anything, it's going to make you full of even more self-pity.  Go tequila!

[Kukalaka]

Tonight's episode was certainly a timely one for this topic, eh?  That was definitely a low point for Lorelai.

But it was kind of realistic. Many people try to drown their anger. But as you could see, it doesn't work very well.