Researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have recently released a study that examined alcohol references in popular music. The study is published early online in the journal Substance Use & Misuse:
Alcohol Brand References in U.S. Popular Music, 2009�2011
Michael Siegel, Renee M. Johnson, Keshav Tyagi, Kathryn Power, Mark C. Lohsen, Amanda J. Ayers and David H. Jernigan
(Posted online on August 23, 2013; doi:10.3109/10826084.2013.793716)
The study highlights several interesting findings:
- Four alcohol brands (Patron tequila, Hennessy cognac, Grey Goose vodka, and Jack Daniel�s whiskey) accounted for more than half of alcohol brand mentions in the songs that mentioned alcohol use in Billboard�s most popular song lists in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
- Alcohol mentions were most common in urban songs (rap, hip-hop and R&B � 37.7% of songs mentioned alcohol), followed by country (21.8%) and pop (14.9%).
- Alcohol use was portrayed as overwhelmingly positive, with negative consequences rarely mentioned.
In the study's press release, researchers highlight several practice implications of these findings:
- �Given the heavy exposure of youth to popular music, these results suggest popular music may serve as a major source of promotion of alcohol use among youth,� said study co-author David Jernigan, PhD. �The findings lay a strong foundation for further research.�
- �A small number of alcohol brands and beverages appear to make frequent appearances in popular music,� said Michael Siegel, MD, MPH, professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health. �If these exposures are found to influence youth drinking behavior, then further public health efforts must be focused on youth exposure to alcohol portrayals in popular music.�
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