Moral Panics

Over the years there have been quite a few moral panics, starting with the mods and rockers then moving to punks then to move to ravers. The new moral panic that the media are making seem worse is teenage binge drinking.

Here’s how a moral panic happens, a new group starts and do something that catches the media’s attention, this then leads to the government and police clamping down on the group. This then leads to more negative media attention which troubles the audience. Which then leads to a cycle as the group like the negative attention.

The moral panic of binge drinking started as a few under age teenagers started drinking on the streets of Britain. The government then clamped down on this and have even asked tesco to increase the prices of their value alcohol. This has then lead to people worrying about the ‘uncontrollable kids’, which has lead to more of them drinking… and so the cycle continues!!!

Really the likelihood of all teenagers being uncontrollable is none. This is normal for teenagers to do and most do it in friends houses or parties. A select few on t he other hand decide to do it on the street, but this doesn’t mean all of them are reckless, as the media is portraying!

Soon the moral panic will move on to the next group that are troubling us!! Watch out for it!