Radio DJs 'encourage excessive drinking'

Radio DJs such as Chris Moyles have been accused of promoting excessive drinking amongst their listeners, according to a study commissioned by the Department Of Health and the Home Office.

The research, carried out by the University of the West of England, found 703 references to alcohol in 1,200 hours of radio output - with three-quarters of the comments encouraging drinking, of which 13% promoted "excessive drinking".

Alcohol references on 'The Chris Moyles Show' on BBC Radio 1 amounted to 74 seconds across three-and-a-half hours, with researchers highlighting an exchange between Moyles and chef Gordon Ramsay, in which he attempted to persuade his guest to go late-night drinking.

The study also found that on BBC stations, almost half of the alcohol-related comments were either neutral or discouraged excessive drinking, whereas this was true of only 17 per cent of the comments on commercial radio.

BBC Radio 1 chiefs have reacted angrily to the claims, saying: "We don't agree that our presenters encourage a culture of drinking. In fact, we have run a high-profile campaign on the radio and online asking listeners to think about the amount of alcohol they drink."