Some pointers for 10H and their language analysis CAT

Teens' safe drinking message drowned out by boozy pop songs and videos from Pink, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga

 Jackie Sinnerton. The Sunday Mail (Qld) October 06, 2013 12:00AM

HEALTH messages warning of the dangers of children drinking alcohol are being drowned out by the lyrics of chart-topping songs.

Australian Medical Association president Steve Hambleton has slammed the unprecedented levels of alcohol "glamourising'', as new research shows as many as one in five hit songs have drinking references.

"Young people are starting to drink at an earlier age and most drink in ways that put their health at risk. Alcohol marketing is a pervasive and dangerous presence in the lives of young people," Dr Hambleton said.

The most recent study of Australian high school students in 2011 revealed that children as young as 12 were dabbling in alcohol. And the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011-12 National Health Survey showed that 31 per cent of males and 14 per cent of females aged 15 to 17 years exceeded recommended alcohol guidelines for single-occasion risk in that year.

The AMA is on a mission to bring about change in "the tricks and methods'' of alcohol marketing to children.

The new international research by university academics highlights the soaring numbers of hit songs with alcohol- related lyrics. Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University found that one in five songs in the UK charts were contained references to alcohol.

The number has doubled since 2001. The pattern is consistent with the US, with many of the hits on the ARIA charts. The researchers concluded that children listen to over two hours of music per day.

Dr Hambleton said: "It is not just teenagers who plug into the hit songs; primary school children love music too, and even if parents are vigilant about what the kids listen to, music with bad language, talk of alcohol, drugs and sex comes pumping out of loud speakers at retail outlets or other public places."

"It is hard to avoid," said worried mum Trina Moloney, of Brisbane's Murarrie. Her son Joshua, 7, loves listening to music.

"It is getting out of hand and I would welcome any moves to limit the exposure to young children."

And it's not just music lyrics, but across-the-board alcohol marketing that angers Dr Hambleton.

In a new report, the AMA puts the spotlight on Lady Gaga and slams the prevalence of alcohol in her hit music video Bad Romance, as well as songs by other female pop stars. With spirit drinks popular with teenage girls, the AMA has grave concerns for the messages coming from many top female vocalists.

YEAR 10s

Please work on finding CITCAT, the arguments and persuasive language and techniques. You have a lot of opportunity to work on your CAT today. USE IT.

THE CONTEXT: Due to an increase of pop music that contains lyrics promoting alcohol.

THE ISSUE: Whether or not pop songs are negatively impacting teens by promoting the consumption of alcohol in teenagers

ARGUMENT #1: The pop song are promoting the consumption of alcohol and this leads to kids not focusing on health messages within society.