Facing the Hangover: MTV News Special
MTV's locally-produced forum on the dangers of binge drinking is Insight for Gen X and Y, raising some questions with bite-size opinions.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Reviews, Subscription
Rightly or wrongly, Pay TV music channels are not always identified with producing local content. A few music shows here and there, the odd concert special, a little bit of lifestyle and the “reality-drama” series Freshwater Blue.
This Sunday it screens a locally-produced forum for youth on the dangers of binge drinking. This is Insight for Gen X and Y, a group discussion hosted by Tim ‘Rosso’ Ross, assisted by Erin McNaught and MTV New Zealand’s Sam Kelway.
It begins with a video package of a ‘typical’ 18 year old’s birthday party: a stretch Hummer and a big night out in King’s Cross, drinking and chasing girls. Chris and his friends are out for a good time and alcohol plays a big part.
The forum includes a cross section of people representing views from the music industry, sport, community organisations, business, government, media, alcohol industry and religion. They include Amy Merediths Christian Lo Russo, Ex Sneaky Sound System Daimon Downey, swimmer Marieke Guehrer, founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia Paul Dillon, Matt Noffs from the Ted Noffs Foundation, Sydney Nightclub owner Julian Tobias, lawyer Adair Donaldson and Muslim Belinda Stedman.
In a stark, no-frills forum, Rosso raises questions about peer group pressure, education, health, government campaigns, advertising strategy and more. It’s a lot to cover in just thirty minutes.
McNaught and Kelway rove the group with microphones, to capture each opinion and ask the odd question.
Everyone seems to be here for the right reason: to reiterate to youth the evils of the demon liquor. We even hear that Australia is ahead of other countries in terms of how prevalent the problem is.
There are opinions on how succesful ad campaigns are, with division over whether warnings on liver degeneration have effect on young people or whether it is better to focus on more immediate dangers.
18 year old Chris says, ‘normal drinking’ is drinking a six pack over the course of an evening.
“Drinking those beers with a bit of a limit on yourself over 6-7 hours or whatever,” he says.
Daimon Downey says Chris’ night out is “tame” compared to other kids.
Belinda Stedman offers an alternative viewpoint, “I don’t understand why people need to drink to have fun. My religion prohibits it so I’m fine with that.”
Matt Noffs, spokesperson for the Ted Noffs Foundation says, “Instead of saying kids should not be drinking or they are to blame, we should actually be teaching them how to drink.”
The special features other music industry celebs, including everyone from Kelly Rowland to Tommy Lee supply video quotes.
That MTV is tackling this subject is worth acknowledging.
ABC’s short-lived but outstanding youth forum series The Hack Half Hour, hosted by Steve Cannane, raised similar subjects back in 2008. What a shame it is no longer with us.
But having raised the important issue of binge-drinking, Facing the Hangover moves too swiftly through the various issues.
Opinions from forum guests are edited down to snappy, bite-size grabs. Video segments move with the speed of an MTV video. It also denies the show room for debate. It’s bit of shame it didn’t have enough trust in its audience to discuss the points raised at more length.
Thankfully, the show isn’t flippant. Ultimately this is a show where the ends outweigh the means. It doesn’t manage to provide all the answers, but it hopefully raises some questions for a generation to consider, in a way that communicates to them. MTV also offers a post-show website with more information at www.mtv.com.au/support and www.mtv.co.nz/support.
Facing the Hangover: MTV News Special premieres 6pm AEDT Sunday 3 April on MTV.
5 Responses
Nice review David, was very much considering tuning in to see how party central MTV treated the subject. But will probably give it a miss seeing at its a bite-size sound grab for people without an attention span.
and this guy: “Instead of saying kids should not be drinking or they are to blame, we should actually be teaching them how to drink.”
Seriously, can we get rid of this mothering attitude and let the kids learn the hard way; say its ok to get drunk and the problem will never go away! Parents should model appropriate alcohol consumption, alas it seems too far gone for that now. Can’t deny the common man his simple pleasures, no.
In that publicity shot above, does the girl in the front left realise there is a bit of upskirting going on? How embarrassment!
Mason: girl in the front left is a guy wearing shorts.
Kev: it’s not a damning review, most of the content is good if low on production values. Would have been better in a longer form.
David with such praise why did it only get 2.5 stars?
nice review. im curious – how does it compare to the forums that they do in the us and uk – like when they had obama and david cameron answer young peoples questions?