The Link between Drinking Alcohol and the Bachelor Television Show
The TV Show
Ah yes, The Bachelor. While you may not watch it or like it, chances are good that you are at least familiar with the concept of The Bachelor. This season features Ben Flajnik as the main man, being pursued by several beautiful women in their 20's and 30's.
I have noticed that aside from string bikinis and triple-coated mascara eyelashes, another link among this season's episodes are alcoholic beverages.
The Requirements
Within each episode of the television show, there are a few staples or required elements.
The Requirements are:
- Red roses
- The host Chris Harrison
- Bachelor Ben without a shirt on
- Women laughing at Ben's jokes
- Women and Ben drinking alcohol
Yes, alcohol.
Really?
Again I nod.
The women toast with Ben, both in groups and on one-on-one dates. The women also toast each other in numerous scenes and socialise with alcohol-filled glasses. The drinks range from champagne to white wine to mixed drinks of various colours.
In the episode that aired on February 7, Courtney Robertson stripped to her white bikini and waded throgh a shallow pool, carrying her wine glass full of alcohol. I wonder, can she not put down the glass? Does the alcohol help her to walk better? I would have the thought the opposite affect on her balance in this situation.
All Part Of The Job?
Aside from being the centrefold for The Bachelor, Ben is employed as a Wine Maker and resides in Sonoma, California. He handles wine as part of his job.
Is he taking his work home with him? Does alcohol really need to be featured in the show?
Stats show The Bachelor is watched primarily by the 18-49 age group. Is it possible that these viewers have children? Yes, chances are good that a portion of the viewers have children. These little ones may creep in front of the television or even be allowed to watch the show.
If the under-18-year-olds are watching the show, they see the alcohol in the scenes. The drinks are paired with smiling faces of beautiful women. The children may take away a few perceptions from what they see on the show:
- Drinking alcohol makes you happy
- Relationships involve alcohol
- Alcohol creates fun moments
Children certainly may have the details explained to them by a parent, or be forbidden to watch the show in the first place. While I am not saying that these perceptions are a certainty, there is a chance for them to occur.
The Non-Drinker
What about the women or Bachelor who does not drink? Would he or she be ostracised by the group for choosing not to consume alcohol? That person might stick out from the group in an awkward way.
I would enjoy seeing whether the dynamic would change if one person, or indeed the entire cast, chose not to drink alcohol for the entire season of the show.
What are you thoughts on the role of alcohol within the series The Bachelor?
