Survey finds soaps 'awash' with booze

A survey of television soaps has found they feature lots of drinking alcohol, prompting a health warning.

The study, carried out by the Food Commission pressure group, found Hollyoaks was the most drink-based, with alcohol raising its head in 18 per cent of scenes.

In Coronation Street drink came up in 17 per cent, EastEnders and Emmerdale were at 16 per cent and Home and Away had drink in 6.7 per cent of screen time.

The commission, which carried out the survey over a two-week period, said the shows could condition teenagers to think drinking was normal.

Cally Matthews, a nutritionist and author of the report, commented: "Soap shows are awash with scenes showing alcohol being consumed as part of a seemingly healthy lifestyle and appearing as a normal part of everyday life.

"There is a real danger that this naturalisation of alcohol consumption may desensitise teenagers to the dangers of excessive drinking."

The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five said they followed the Ofcom code regarding the presence of alcohol.