Alcohol Use on Gilmore Girls - possible spoilers

[mela489]

yeah.  People have like one drink all the time.  They aren't getting drunk or anything.  Its just a drink.  When we go out my grandparents/aunt and sometimes mom have a glass of wine, and like at meals we eat w/ the whole family all the ppls 21 and older (well and my cousin once when she was 20) have drinks with dinner.  But thats not harmful or getting drunk.  Getting drunk is Rory after drinking miss patty's founder's day punch, lorelai at lane's wedding, logan and fin and collin that one night.  but notice, rory was driving and they are showing the bad effects of getting drunk.  But everyone has drinks normally.  Have one glass doesn't get you drunk.

[Dani257]

Okay, I don't think either extreme is accurate.  I don't think teenagers are puppets who are going to go out on a binge after they see an episode of Gilmore Girls where the characters drink.  And, I don't think they're all completely mature and are never ever influenced by what's on tv.  Since all teenagers don't think alike or mature at the same rate, I'm guessing some might be influenced by the media.  I do agree that some of the images of beauty influences young women.  Heck, it influences older women.  And, men and boys are influenced as well.  But, again, it's not all teenagers or all adults.

But, I think with the way Gilmore Girl's portrays drinking, it would take a really emotionally weak person and someone who can be easily manipulated to be influenced to drink because of this show.  And, what's the word for someone who gets manipulated?  Like someone who manipulates people is manipulative, but what's the word for someone who usually finds themselves on the receiving end?

[MikeinLA]

One word for someone who is easily manipulated is gullible.

Even the MOST gullible teen is not going to go get blotto because of watching drinking on a TV show. I didn't say and hope I didn't imply that. Nor are all teens puppets. But merchandisers and advertisers know teens in particular are impressionable and tend to latch on to fads and trends and imitate what they see as part of the need to fit in and be one of the group.

As per the subject of this thread: I just think drinking of alcoholic beverages is a very important subject with regard to how it is portrayed on a show watched by millions of pre-drinking age fans who admire the principle characters. Along with a few others here, I have seen the effects of immoderate drinking. A fellow pilot and squadron buddy of mine was killed when he lost control of his car driving home from the officers club, blind drunk. He was 26. It took him five days to die.

I am comfortable with the way drinking is portrayed on the show. It is done responsibly and in moderation, and if not, consequences are shown, altho not the sames ones I have seen.

[emsly]

I think that they do mention drinking alot on the show, but I'm satisfied with how they do it.
Lorelai never appears drunk at dinner. It's not like she's taking shots. Like many people, she might have wine or something before dinner, and by the time she drives home it's out of her system. If they showed Lorelai tripping over things, slurring words, and then driving home, then we'd have a problem.

Also, if you notice, Rory never drinks until she gets to college. And Lor is fine with her drinking at college. I like that she's not naive enough to think that her perfect angel child isn't ever going to drink. But I do think Lorelai would have a problem if Rory got drunk every weekend. A lot of kids drink in college. It would be unrealistic if they showed Rory at Yale and never showed alcohol.

When people do get drunk in the show, it's never construed as positive. When Rory got drunk on Founder's Day Punch, it wasn't like she was dancing around yelling YoooHooo, then got up and joked about it the next morning like most people do. And when Lorelai made that drunken speech, she felt awful about it the next morning.

Yeah, Lorelai does joke about it alot, but like someone says, she often does so to lighten the mood. She really does care about what happens to Rory.

[unapologeticmocker]

Even the MOST gullible teen is not going to go get blotto because of watching drinking on a TV show. I didn't say and hope I didn't imply that. Nor are all teens puppets. But merchandisers and advertisers know teens in particular are impressionable and tend to latch on to fads and trends and imitate what they see as part of the need to fit in and be one of the group.

That is not the media influenece I was refering to.  I menat like how adults are concerned pictures of super skinny celebrties will cause girls to have eating diorders.  That kind of media influenece not how companies try to get us to buy things.  I know that kind of stuff really influences some people.

[Mr Funkadelic]

Oh yes....very true!!! lots of alchol on the show!!!! that's how I started with the vodka and tonic!!!! 

[lessa]

I figured everybody with access to alcohol had the same choices to make about alcohol. It all seems so organized on television, with structured drinking situations and opportunities for anyone who wants to do it. Nobody has to hide their drinking or illegally buy a '20' and down it in the school bathroom or anything.
Everything about drinking seems to be out in the open and under control (or at least something people are prepared for) on TV, and I don't know how realistic that is.

[Dani257]

One word for someone who is easily manipulated is gullible.

Gullible.  Thank you.  I tend to suffer from what I call wandering aphasia.  Words that I know just flit out of my head when I need them.

Even the MOST gullible teen is not going to go get blotto because of watching drinking on a TV show. I didn't say and hope I didn't imply that. Nor are all teens puppets. But merchandisers and advertisers know teens in particular are impressionable and tend to latch on to fads and trends and imitate what they see as part of the need to fit in and be one of the group.

Okay, my post wasn't directed at any one person in particular.  There's just been a lot of talk about teens, and the responsibility of the show, and I was just saying I take a more moderate view from either extreme.

[lessa]

Are there any FCC regulations about how drinkers or drunkenness can 'decently' be displayed on television? I've noticed a narrow or blind view to drinking on television before, (that is, either any drinker on a show was alcoholic or the effects of alcohol were completely ignored) but I assumed it was just a political choice for networks.

[MikeinLA]

Are there any FCC regulations about how drinkers or drunkenness can 'decently' be displayed on television? I've noticed a narrow or blind view to drinking on television before, (that is, either any drinker on a show was alcoholic or the effects of alcohol were completely ignored) but I assumed it was just a political choice for networks.

No FCC regulation controls content. This would fall under the First Amendment, which prohibits government abridging free speech. It is possible for a network or broadcaster to be charged with obscene content, as happened in the case of Janet Jackson's famous "wardrobe malfunction".

The broadcast networks subscribe to a set of standards and practices as set forth by the National Association of Broadcasters. It's guidelines only, and here's a link I found:

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/standardsand/standardsand.htm

Hope this helps a little.

[1giantGGfan]

So, I have a question. This talk about being influenced by the media, is the media that we are talking about Gilmore Girls, or just TV in general?

[lessa]

Well, they do advertise a 'Gilmore Lifestyle' on the commercials. I'd like to dress like Lorelai and wear the same makeup, but would I also like a wet martini with an olive every Friday?

The broadcast networks subscribe to a set of standards and practices as set forth by the National Association of Broadcasters. It's guidelines only, and here's a link I found:
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/standardsand/standardsand.htm
Hope this helps a little.

Thanks Mike, that's what I wanted to know.

[MikeinLA]

Media  is generally taken to include all print media, including newspapers, billboards, printed signs, and magazines, all electronic media, including radio, TV, and the internet, and movies. Flyers handed out on street corners or stuck on bulletin boards are media. Sponsors or commercial logos on clothing are media. Any means of conveying images and information may be considered media.

[Stephanie]

I say you are only as good as your last drink, so drink up girls!! 

I love you Melissa but I have to disagree (although I am stuck mid fifth season and havn't seen furtther so I might be out of the loop). I do only see Lorelai drink one drink at Emilys all up (half a martini, a wine) and by the time she is driving is probably well under the limit - those girls do haev fast metabolisms too  .

But I think Rory drinking post spring break is harmless fun, perhaps proving that the 21 age limit is pointless in America and quite frankly makes for immature 21 year olds (think the party where Lane gets drunk on the bands first gig - that stupid 'I'm 21, yeah' guy  ). I mean at 18 you can smoke, vote and die in a war but you can't have a few beers with your mates?

And I think it is good Rory can speak about it with Lorelai and have a few laughs but be serious at the same time.

[schatzina]

You all are right.But laws in the US are really restrictive ...Here in Europe you can buy a drink even if you are 16.They don't care about the age.
By the way ..have you ever seen THE OC?They aren't even not 18 and they get drunk pretty much.

To drink sometimes .. even every friday nght dinner is quite okay.But Logan .. he drinks scotch every time we see him.