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songs young people listen to could be encouraging them to drink more alcohol. This is conclusion of study into extent to which lyrics contain references to drinking. Researchers from John Moores University in Liverpool, England assert that public health warnings on liquor may be of diminishing value because of prevalence of terms surrounding alcohol in pop songs. The study found that one in five songs in UK music charts contains references to intoxicating beverages. This figure is double that from decade ago. They also found that songs from 1981 contained relatively few references to alcohol. John Moores attributed some of rise to influx of US-imported songs.

Researchers said exposure of young people to alcohol in media is " major concern". Professor Karen Hughes warned that references to alcohol are "form of advertising and marketing for alcoholic products." She said: "Public health concerns are already focused on impacts of alcohol advertising on drinking behaviours of young people, yet the growing reference to alcohol in popular music could mean that positive, alcohol-promoting messages are reaching much larger audiences." Dr Hughes added: "Health and other professionals should be vigilant to ensure that popular music does not become medium for reinforcing and extending cultures of intoxication and alcohol-related harm."