Limiting Children's Exposure To Alcohol Ads

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There is a very interesting report in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. It has to do with alcohol product placement in movies.

There is a disturbing trend: over the past seven years the number of scenes with alcohol and alcohol brand placement has increased in movies aimed at children and teens. Brand appearances in youth-rated movies have gone up, from 80 to 145 per year.

We know that children and teens exposed to images of alcohol and tobacco in movies are more likely to engage in risky substance-related behavior.

The problem is not as bad in the case of cigarette smokers because of the master settlement agreement that was established in 1998 between the state Attorneys General and major tobacco companies, where tobacco companies agreed to end product placement in film and television.

The authors of the journal suggest something similar be done with alcohol ads.