The New York Times has a look at the role of alcohol in the Harry Potter book series and film franchise--particularly, the latest film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Alcohol educators say that they don’t want to ruin the fun, but that parents should be aware of alcohol’s role in the Harry Potter series, the books as well as the movies. Several studies suggest that movies influence teenagers’ behavior when it comes to drinking, drugs and tobacco. An Institute of Medicine committee on under-age drinking has said there is “a strong possibility” that youth exposure to alcohol through movies contributes to early initiation of alcohol use.
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Alcohol experts say this does not mean that children shouldn’t see the new Harry Potter movie. It actually presents an opportunity for parents to talk to their children about alcohol, says Dr. Christopher Welsh, a University of Maryland psychiatrist and addiction specialist.
Posted by
07-27-2009
at 5:01 PM
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Fan Comments |
Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 17:32:07
thats ogtta be the dumbest thing i ever heard. 1st!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 17:35:22
Wow! Seriously, theyre making a big deal out of nothing! how pathetic.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 17:35:43
how about they mind their own business and leave HP alone!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 17:41:14
thats ogtta be the dumbest thing i ever heard. 1st!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 18:00:47
seriously? wow. thats pathetic
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 18:33:13
how about we stop being so afraid of alcohol and be like normal countries that teach their kids about alcohol responsibly from a young age?
hell, we might as well have little family discussions every time theres an underwear commercial on TV so Little Susan wont become a stripper.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 18:38:51
wow... this is quite ridiculous.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 18:39:23
Oh, wow. I cant even think of a proper response to how preposterous I find that article. Hermione "acting tipsy"? Apparently having a good time with friends and slinging your arms around them is now being classified as "being tipsy." Good to know.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 18:54:16
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 19:07:21
OMG, their studies actually are pathetic...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 19:09:47
Its dumb to worry about it, but I will admit I did think about the role of drinking while watching
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 19:09:49
OMG, their studies actually are pathetic...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 19:09:51
OMG, their studies actually are pathetic...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 19:28:34
Hmmm...Butterbeer (root beer), pumpkin juice drinking by the youths and two ADULTS drinking themselves unconsious
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 19:28:44
Hmmm...Butterbeer (root beer), pumpkin juice drinking by the youths and two ADULTS drinking themselves unconsious
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 19:29:53
Hmmm...Butterbeer (root beer), pumpkin juice drinking by the youths and two ADULTS drinking themselves unconsious
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 19:30:25
Hmmm...Butterbeer (root beer), pumpkin juice drinking by the youths and two ADULTS drinking
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 19:30:38
Wow.... and they say we over analyize.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 19:50:46
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:01:27
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:10:04
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:29:28
Lol. They dont seem to get that its a culture thing. The United States is like the most uptight country as far as alcohol goes, and guess what, more teens binge drink in the US than in Europe because once they get alcohol, its like, well, I dont know when Ill get some of this stuff again so I better get completely wasted. And butterbeer is alcoholic (remember Winky?), but its not strong. And Hermione isnt that uptight about touching Ron and Harry, she had no problem leaning against Harry when she was crying, holding Rons hand in the hospital wing, and helping physically support Ron in the fourth movie after he asked out Fleur Delcour. Seriously.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:34:13
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:35:54
Wow, seriously? Thats just crazy. Why is there always something in the series that people feel the need to attack? If we were all in the wizarding world EVERYONE would be drinking! One of the darkest wizards of all times has just returned, and all of his supporters are killing tons of people! Who wouldnt drown their stress away with alcohol? Answer me that.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:37:44
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:38:27
Wow, seriously? Thats just crazy. Why is there always something in the series that people feel the need to attack? If we were all in the wizarding world EVERYONE would be drinking! One of the darkest wizards of all times has just returned, and all of his supporters are killing tons of people! Who wouldnt drown their stress away with alcohol? Answer me that.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:44:43
WHAT RUBBISH!
I WISH IT SHOWED HARRY AND RON AND HERMIONE DOING MAGICAL WEED, THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THESE PEOPLES KNICKERS IN A KNOT.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:44:58
WHAT RUBBISH!
I WISH IT SHOWED HARRY AND RON AND HERMIONE DOING MAGICAL WEED, THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THESE PEOPLES KNICKERS IN A KNOT.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:56:05
I think this is a really dumb study and Im surprised someone has spent money conducting it. Its a MOVIE ladies and gents, its not telling us all that its ok to go and drink. Do these organisations really think that someone is going to be watching Harry Potter (which s a /fantasy/ series) and think "wow, look, the trio is drinking, I guess its ok for me to do that as well."? Geez, seriously... they need to get over themsevles.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:56:47
I think this is a really dumb study and Im surprised someone has spent money conducting it. Its a MOVIE ladies and gents, its not telling us all that its ok to go and drink. Do these organisations really think that someone is going to be watching Harry Potter (which s a /fantasy/ series) and think "wow, look, the trio is drinking, I guess its ok for me to do that as well."? Geez, seriously... they need to get over themsevles.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:56:51
I think this is a really dumb study and Im surprised someone has spent money conducting it. Its a MOVIE ladies and gents, its not telling us all that its ok to go and drink. Do these organisations really think that someone is going to be watching Harry Potter (which s a /fantasy/ series) and think "wow, look, the trio is drinking, I guess its ok for me to do that as well."? Geez, seriously... they need to get over themsevles.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 20:57:14
I really didnt notice excessive alcohol consumption (though I am over 21)... people in the US are so uptight! Its totally acceptable for young adults/teens in Europe to drink a little... but I guess thats what you get in a country founded by puritans.
@oakshaft79pn: Magical Weed! LOL! I want some hahaha!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 21:21:11
I am a 30 year old American parent of 2... I dont see wtf these ppls problem is??! They actually SPENT MONEY on this study??!?!! Well THERES a good waste of someones tax dollars lol. Lets not help the homeless, or clean up the environment, lets worry about how alcoholic the beverages may be in a fictional movie. Completely insane!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 21:26:33
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 21:28:02
Really? Harry Potter is responsible for putting drinking into kids heads? Come ON. Get real!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 21:32:58
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 21:32:59
Really? Harry Potter is responsible for putting drinking into kids heads? Come ON. Get real!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 21:33:14
Okay. That was seriously RIDICULUS. I mean Do they think that we teens have no common sense at all? I mean do they think that if we see people(heaven forbid)having a good time that were gonna go out and get wasted first chance we get?? I think that NYT needs to sort out their priorities and realize that nobody cares! The movie was good, and plus...whats Hogwarts without a little funn??
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 22:01:43
this is the reason that this movie should have been rated pg-13, the drinking!
where are the kegs.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 22:27:52
They said this becuase of the Hermine getting drunk with butterbeer, that was funny tho, but this has to bee the DUMBIST I have ever heard of. Harry Potter is not going to make kids drink more. Who ever said this is crazzy and is an idot.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 22:32:24
Seriously, NYT has too much time on their hands to write such an article. They are plenty of films and movies with alcohol in it....and not to mention, they were rated G. Parents need to lighten up. Free up the minds. Let the children explore and you do the explaining.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 22:39:42
Wow, well this can be added to the dumbest protests about Harry Potter ever...right up there with the one ages ago about Jo being prejudiced against fat people and Hermione encouraging violence in girls (that one came out after PoA).
Idiots.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 22:59:24
Weve never had any info on how much alcohol is in butterbeer - I suspect very little. (Winky is vry small and drank a whole lot of it.)
As for Hagrid and Slughorn getting drunk, or even Dumbledore getting the necessary signature to get Tom Riddle to Hogwarts - to me (from reading the book) the message was "Dont have a lot of alcohol or youll make a fool of yourself."
However, the New York Times reporter has managed to make a fool of herself without any alcohol.
BTW - if the book was not intended for 10-year-olds, maybe neithe is the movie.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:09:46
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:10:49
Thats the dumbest thing Ive ever heard. Of ALL of the other movies they could possibly put under a microscope for their drinking content, they decide to do it with HARRY POTTER?! Because Hermione gets mildly tipsy after Butterbeer? Butterbeer has the alcoholic content of wine coolers, Ive always thought. That part of the movie made me laugh because Hermione WOULD be a complete lightweight. And the other people in the movie drinking were ADULTS. Those scenes were meant to be humorous. I swear, the New York Times has GOT to be running out of ideas.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:11:35
I just saw the HBP in theatres, and now I feel like a 12 pack of beers and a one night stand.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:11:59
OK... the frothy moustache point is complete trash because you can get those from having a milkshake for petes sake.
secondly, since when does a 16 year old teenage girl have to be under the influence to put her arms around her two best friends? when i saw that scene the thought that it might be because of the butterbeer didnt even cross my mind... since when is being friendly an act of drunkenness?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:12:26
"Harry and Friends are gonna start snorting floo powder and eating magical shrooms becoming so reckless theyll attempt to ride blast ended skrewts." This is as ridiculus as that rubbish NY times posted and just as likely as Harry Potter making kids drink. You have a problem? No one told you to watch/read the book or movie. Brain of Flobber Worms much? For the record Butter beer has as almost no acohol. :]
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:14:43
"Harry and Friends are gonna start snorting floo powder and eating magical shrooms becoming so reckless theyll attempt to ride blast ended skrewts." This is as ridiculus as that rubbish NY times posted and just as likely as Harry Potter making kids drink. You have a problem? No one told you to watch/read the book or movie. Brain of Flobber Worms much? For the record Butter beer has as almost no acohol. :]
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:14:49
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:14:49
OK... the frothy moustache point is complete trash because you can get those from having a milkshake for petes sake.
secondly, since when does a 16 year old teenage girl have to be under the influence to put her arms around her two best friends? when i saw that scene the thought that it might be because of the butterbeer didnt even cross my mind... since when is being friendly an act of drunkenness?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:27:01
This has got to be the lamest, most riduclous thing Ive ever heard! To think, the nerve of them, blaming harry potter for influencing alcohol in young people! Are they SIRIUS or is this a joke? Oh no, its a big bad bottle of scary oak matured mead! Run away kids! What are they playing at? BTW, reading many of the previous comments was great, very amusing!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:27:57
I have always had this on the back of my mind... I am just glad they never got drunk, drunk.... I never liked the idea of fire whiskey or the meads they drink....theyre rather unnecessary.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:28:16
Give it a rest, America has the highest minimum drinking age in the world and somehow, were the ones with the most underage-drinking related problems.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:48:15
I do agree with all of you that this is a ridicolous article. This NYTimes article and its author smells of great exaggeration. The writer is overdoing the whole alcohol situation... thats because there isnt any actual situation where alcohol has become a serious problem in the movie, really,and in the entire series to fuss about. That frothy mustache is such a horrible example. You can a frothy mustache from several drinks that include milkshake. They actually have to have that frotj in them. In fact, not all alcohol have that... And no, I dont drink beer. I am 19 .not yet 21, but doesnt mean when I turn 21 that Im going to start drinking alcoholic beverages right away. I have never been influenced by any book, movie, or tv show to drink alcohol, smoke, or do and take other substances including smoke marijuana.
And what? Neville wasnt serving up alcoholic drinks. I doubt oak-matured mead is alcoholic. Of course, we shouldnt be fooled by the names of a drink and think they are alcoholic. Is fire whiskey really alcoholic? If it is, then probably doesnt have much alcohol to be serving to these underage HP characters. Perhaps in emergency situations taking a sip of alcohol is okay provided there could be a medical benefit.
Im not complaining about my nations minimum drinking age being the highest because thats not really the cause of underage drinking. Age doesnt actually anything to do with it. It has to do with teaching responsiblity regarding alcohol.
Pottercullen, thats low of you to pick on the Puritans like that. That is wrong. Its sad if you believe they were all crazy and the like.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:49:11
Wow...stupid people... Who wants to join me for a round? Drinks on me. ;)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:50:46
Wow...stupid people... Who wants to join me for a round? Drinks on me. ;)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-27 23:51:29
Wow...stupid people... Who wants to join me for a round? Drinks on me. ;)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 00:09:10
Err, sorry about that. Dumb computer. & Id like to add: Kiddies, just because Draco Malfoy got a tattoo, doesnt mean you should too.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 00:22:24
I never pictured Butterbeer as being an alcoholic beverage. But thats just me. I find this study to be completely ridiculous. Last time I checked, teens didnt go to a party and openly state "Well guys, I just got back from that Harry Potter movie with all the alcohol so lets get drunken crazzzzzy!"
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 00:47:12
Overseas audiences may respond differently to the drinking scenes. In England, the legal drinking age is 18, but 16-year-olds can order alcohol if they
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 00:51:12
wow it just cut off my entire comment...i choose not to respond to this again cause overall it really doesnt matter
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 00:51:50
Ive never been curious about the alcoholic content of butterbeer, Ive always been more concerned about the butter part. It sounds disgustingly artery-clogging.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 01:17:10
TOOOLS!
some academics! Spending their time analyzing Alcohol consumption in a fantasy film!
get real jobs
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 02:13:24
Boulder dash! Can you even really classify butterbeer as alcoholic? Cough syrup probably has more alcohol in it. And besides, by the time that scene happened, Hermione was already of age in the Wizarding world, having turned 17 in September. Weve seen Hermione lighten up before without being under the influence of anything.
As far as the Oak Matured Mead goes, yeah, its alcoholic... But they were under the supervision of a professor. I would also say the fire whiskey is alcoholic as well because Fred and George had to sneak it in, I believe.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 02:21:35
OMG!!! Are you kidding me?! Its Butterbeer and its MEAD! Its not like theyre downing shots of VODKA!! And theyre characters are like 16/17 years old. And yes...Hermione maybe is a LITTLE tipsy in that one scene, but again...it was BUTTERBEER and her character is like 18 years old in book 6.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 02:23:23
Well, you gotta admit...Lunas explanation about sleep walking and wearing shoes to bed, she does sound like shes kinda high. LoL. Just kidding.
I think alcohol abuse is a serious issue (for teens and adults as well), but I dont think anything in the Potter movies actually promotes the use of alcohol, other than a few comments in the book that almost every teen has thought at one time or another. At least they didnt succumb to the desire and go on a drinking binge to find out. I can just see Neville trying to do keg stands, although the Levia Corpus spell would be great for that. I suppose they could all binge drink and take a puking pastil and vomit it all back up. On second thought, I think we should just leave it the way it is and find something else to complain about.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 02:34:40
I wonder if they brought up Harrys reaction to the Felix Felicis?? That seemed alot more "controversial" than Hermione getting a little tipsy.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 02:59:22
Yeha...I def. didn;t think she was drunk at ALL.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 03:28:04
Sorry, but that seems a bit stupid. For one thing, in the books its mentioned that butterbeer is only very slightly alchoholic. Also, plenty of kids get given a glass of wine aon special occasions, which is no different to Slughorn giving them a glass of mulled mead. I understand that parents might be worried if the trio was constantly drinkking in the films, but tbh those few scenes are very unlikely to make someone go and try alchohol for the first time.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 03:52:28
ridiculous!
http://www .hetalcb.dragonadopters.c om/dragon_174863
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 04:14:42
This compared to Skins is obviously MUCH MUCH worse. I mean sure, the british tv show shows naked teenagers getting drunk, getting high, and getting naked. But harry potter really does push the limit. /end sarcasm
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 04:47:14
@fluorescentquestion: I know right...I didnt hear them mention shows like Gossip Girl in that dumb little article. Thats much worse than any alcohol/drug references in Harry Potter. Americans are way too censored. We over-analyze the wrong things WAY too much.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 06:21:42
How RIDICULOUS. That must be the most stupid thing i have heard in ages! Yess, cause we are all going to go out and get drunk on pumpkin juic and butter beer! How Pathic!!! Stop making such a big deal out of nothing!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 06:27:24
This is SO pathetic!!!!!!!! When Hermine drinks the butter beer and puts her arms around both Ron and Harry, At no time during that did i think she was drunk for godness sake! did it cross your mind that she was just being friendly! get over your self and go and study something more important!!!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 06:47:09
This is just yet another example of: Oh my God look at all these tiny subliminal messages telling people to drink! No. The reason people drink is a) there is NOTHING ELSE TO DO and b) its so frowned upon! If people were simply given the option to drink theyd get bored of it in no time! People think: How do i rebel? oo - alcohol, thats not allowed, but if it werent so condemned there would be less of that. And to think someone spent money to conduct this research....you must have to lack a certain amount of common sense to think Harry Potter could encourage drinking. There are far worse fioms out there.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 07:04:04
that is soooooooooooo dum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of people drink!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 07:14:03
ridiculous
it isnt like they were binging is it?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 07:17:08
ya come on lots of movies have drinking in it!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 07:19:39
This is absolutely ridiculous. Doesnt the New York Times have anything better to write about? Seriously. Its about time the United States gets with the rest of the world and lowers the darn drinking age. There would certainly be fewer problems! Makes me so angry. Also the whole Hermione putting her arms around Harry and Ron thing is being conveyed as TIPSY? I thought thats how friends acted around each other, but hey, I guess I dont know anything.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 07:22:50
the legal drinking age in england is 17, they can get wasted if they want to =P
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 07:38:50
Alll you can do is shake your head at crapo like this.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 08:07:54
i suppose that next they will be saying the reason teenagers become sexually active young is because of ron and lavenders make-outs, right?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 08:27:12
I think alcohol is so widely popular among the youth, specifically the U.S., is because people continue to make a bigger deal about it than it is. Younger people then look at it as something rebelious rather than just letting alcohol be a normal part of culture, as it is in many other countries. So studies like this are what attracts the youth to going crazy with alcohol, not the Harry Potter movies.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 08:37:38
Im less bothered by the article than the fact that there were people interviewed by the writer who were taken aback by the alcohol. Our puritanical view of sins here in the US are often the causes of the things their prohibition seek to curb.
To reiterate what others have said: firstly, everyone is partaking of what little alcohol there is in moderation; secondly, considering all the danger around them, a little alcohol could be expected; thirdly, cultural norms are different in Europe where even young teens drink (small amounts) of alcohol with meals; and lastly, this is a fictional world!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 08:38:02
....This has got to be the dumbest thing ive ever heard. seriously, how much alcohol is even in the movie? what....one glass of wine thats poisoned and hagrid and slughorn, who are well over 21 (18 in the UKs case), get drunk. yup....that does it. thats totally going to make every kid who saw it go get wasted. and what about the whole "gives parents an opportunity to talk about alcohol. SCORE...because after i saw harry potter at midnight....a movie ive been waiting for for 2 years.....i want to hear:
"hey...i noticed there was a glass of wine in there. lets talk about alcohol abuse and underaged drinking."
any parent that does that using a harry potter movie has some serious issues. these kinds of articles just go to show how paranoid and over-protective some people are. to be honest....it disgusts me.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 08:46:37
Ok, I can see where they are coming from, but honestly does it really matter? I know plenty of people whos parents starting teaching them from a very young age not to drink and many of them now struggle with alcohol problems. I grew with parents who always allowed me to have a sip of whatever they were drinking and was taught that it is ok to drink as long as you are of a proper age and if you do it responsibly. And now at 26 Ive only been truly drunk once and only drink on very rare occasions. But more importantly, kids are going to do stuff and try things out all you can do is try to help them make a wise choice instead of a poor one.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:03:19
For the love of Dobby, I HIGHLY doubt people of Generations Y and Z are going to be attending AA meetings and saying "I started because I saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince when I was young." This study is utter ridiculousness. Lets see, there was one class of poisoned wine, and one butterbeer to each of the trio. Hagrid, Slughorn, Snape, and Narcissa are well over 21 or 18.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:04:07
The scene involving Hermione being tipsy is clearly meant to be taking that way. But its supposed to be funny because Hermione is the last character who would ever get drunk. Its not like shes wasted. Plus the main Harry Potter audience has grown up with the books/films and most of us are in our late teens and early 20s and 30s now. I think we tell the difference between some fictional drinking and the real thing. America is way too uptight when it comes to things like this. The more its "forbidden" the more young people will want to do it. Other countries with lower legal drinking ages do not have the same problems that we do here.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:04:07
Are they talking about Butterbear?...Its a very stupid analysis though, alcohol isnt prominant in the films...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:07:11
this is ridiculous! Butterbeer isnt even alcoholic! Therefore it isnt under-age! And Hermione WASNT drunk + the scene with slughorn and hagrid was a MASSIVE part of the film! This is just a snide remark on Harry Potter that a true fan or SOMEONE WITH A BRAIN could poke like a 100 holes in!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:13:54
this is ridiculous! Butterbeer isnt even alcoholic! Therefore it isnt under-age! And Hermione WASNT drunk + the scene with slughorn and hagrid was a MASSIVE part of the film! This is just a snide remark on Harry Potter that a true fan or SOMEONE WITH A BRAIN could poke like a 100 holes in!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:29:16
butterbeer is very weak
only house elves can get drunk off it.
and hagrid and slughorn had to be drunk otherwise he would have remembered giving harry the memory in the morning.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:33:45
hmmm maybe they drink because the drinking age in England is like, 16
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:33:47
hmmm maybe they drink because the drinking age in England is like, 16
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:53:26
when had jk ever said O K kids i want you to go do drugs and smoke, (i dontt smoke) and smoking isnt illeagal (and im not old enough but i wouldnt either way) and when has the trio ever smoked and donr drugs, the worst theyve ever done is drink fire wisky. geez.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:56:31
Im a mom and i went to see the movie with my kids age 12 and 9; we read the books and none of them even comment on the alchool aspect of the movie. There other things to comment about! really people get a life and study something else. theyve been trying to sabotage the movies and the books with every possible excuse.. it a truly masterpiece just enjoy it! the books are an amazing lesson in life... OMG ... I truly thing is just pure envy for Jo success. Love HP and i always will. thanks Jo!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 09:59:08
You have got to be kidding me. People in Europe start drinking as children and in many countries they are healthier than we are here in the States. Its not like they are drinking hard liquor and it isnt a major factor in the movie. People just have to force their opinions on us whether we like it or not because they think they are so much smarter than we are.
Get a life people, its a movie made from a book of fiction!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 10:04:03
In the wizerding world, you come "of age" when you are 17. That probably means you can drink at that age. Butterbeer has almost no alchohol, and Hermione can drink in the Three Broomsticks scene because of her September birthday. When Ron drinks the mead, he is 17 too. Hagrid and Slughorn are like sixty. Hmmmm.....
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 10:04:50
Oops! I noticed that my last post was posted 4 times...sorry about that. But, really folks...What is the problem here? I did not notice any untoward drinking. Shouldnt there been more of a worry about things like being poisoned, almost cursed to death, slashed to bloody ribbons by a spell, blasted to death and falling several feet, etc ??? Give it a rest, for Petes sake! Its JUST a movie.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 10:23:14
That made me laugh so much, its absolutly ridiculoussssss!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 10:25:43
Really How perfetic! i mean wtf! leave hp alone really !
every one drinks young teenagers already drink so its nt guna make them worse is it!:L! stupid!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 10:26:17
Really How perfetic! i mean wtf! leave hp alone really !
every one drinks young teenagers already drink so its nt guna make them worse is it!:L! stupid!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 10:27:38
Really How perfetic! i mean wtf! leave hp alone really !
every one drinks young teenagers already drink so its nt guna make them worse is it!:L! stupid!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 10:27:39
Really How perfetic! i mean wtf! leave hp alone really !
every one drinks young teenagers already drink so its nt guna make them worse is it!:L! stupid!!!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 10:31:41
Its not in the movie that much! And besides, butterbeer?? Come on. I think all fans are probably just used to reading about it in the series and seeing it in the movies. I honestly doubt any of them have analyzed how "firewhisky" and "butterbeer" could be a bad influence. Have these people got nothing better to do?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 11:32:49
That is absolutely ridiculous!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 12:04:27
@hpfan444: Actually Hermione is 18 years old in book 6 because she was born a year before Harry and Ron. So that makes this whole thing even more ridiculous.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 12:18:19
its a movie thats the dumbest thing i ever heard if you dont feel comfortable watching it then dont.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 12:18:29
its a movie thats the dumbest thing i ever heard if you dont feel comfortable watching it then dont.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 12:18:38
its a movie thats the dumbest thing i ever heard if you dont feel comfortable watching it then dont.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 12:18:39
its a movie thats the dumbest thing i ever heard if you dont feel comfortable watching it then dont.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 12:18:47
its a movie thats the dumbest thing i ever heard if you dont feel comfortable watching it then dont.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 12:19:08
Its a movie thats the dumbest thing i ever heard if you dont feel comfortable watching it then dont.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 12:19:12
Its a movie thats the dumbest thing i ever heard if you dont feel comfortable watching it then dont.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 12:20:02
Its a movie thats the dumbest thing i ever heard if you dont feel comfortable watching it then dont.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 12:25:37
This is ridiculous, Europeans have an entirely different drinking culture than Americans, and frankly we are all far too uptight about it. Mothers should stop being so worried about what their children are seeing and start teaching them REAL life lessons. We are far too over protective.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 13:08:42
iwantorlando05 no hermione was 17 in the book because harry turned 16 in that summer, then she turned 17 on september 19th, a bit like angelina johnson in her 6th year (book 4)
it doent matter though because in the books they drink butterbeer from the age of 13/14 in their 3rd year so if what she does in the film is technically illegal then what happens in the book definitely is. But I dont know a single person who actually noticed how much alcohol was in the film; loads more films are a lot worse.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 13:32:51
Hermione is of age. Also, I have always thought butterbeer to have the same alcoholic content of alcohol "removed" wine or beer. Less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume or >1 proof. Nothing wrong with that considering TEENS can buy that stuff.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 13:58:20
If they are referring to the tipsy Hermione then they didnt see that it was Slughorn who spilled the contents of his drink over the table and some hit her cup. Frothy mustaches come from milk, milk shakes, whipped cream on hot chocolate, and the frothy milk on lattes.
Ive never thought that butterbeer or pumpkin juice were alcoholic if they were why would Seamus have tried to turn it into rum in HP1?
We drink root beer, birch beer, and ginger ale all the time - its just soda/pop.
What a silly study - probably received tax money to fund it too.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 14:06:23
I think Robin Williams said it best: "Wakeup a--h---! No movies real!" Puulease!!! Give me a break. Im a parent and I think this is absurd. Whats got her wand in a knot???
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 14:27:10
Yet another ridiculous article by the New York Times (gag). I guess theyve run out of things to talk about.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 14:30:06
What? Seriously, WHAT? I saw the title of this and was just like WHAT?
Yeah, this is a load of rubbish.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 14:34:48
This is ridiculous, they didnt even get the facts right. NYT says theyre all 16.. er, no. AND YES, a 10 year old would know why someone was tipsy.
Puh-lease. Give the movie a break... you wont be changing anything.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 15:04:40
Okay, when did Hermione act tipsy??????????? I actually saw the movie a week ago when it came out and I dont remember her acting weird... As for Slughorn and Hagrid, hell, theyre old people, and its not like they would be driving or anything soon after!
Anyway, the thing is that when you prohibit something, it makes it more alluring. If there were more openness about the whole alcohol, tobacco, drugs and sex, there wouldnt be that many drunk drivers, unplanned pregnancies, or STDs! Instead of focusing on telling people to stop a habit altogether, they should focus on CONTROLLING AND PROTECTING yourselves.
Besides, Harry Potter teaches way more values than it teaches bad behaviors...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 15:12:33
this is soooo rediculous! im 13 and trust me, this movie gave me no desire what so ever to drink and or do "magical weed" lol and also why are they starting this NOW? the trio has been drinking butterbeer since they were my age (yayy me!), im PoA, and no one said anything about it then! this makes me embarrassed bcuz my whole family went to University of MD and i cant believe that they would waste so much of their time researching this! geesh!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 15:41:39
d3si_89, hermione was acting tipsy walking along the path just before they saw katie bell. she drank like her entire butterbeer in one go just before ron points out the moustache. I am underage and too young to drink. but when I see harry potter, I dont get the impression that its cool to drink. hermione acts tipsy and cant walk straight when she drinks butterbeer. ron almost dies when he drinks poisoned mead. slughorn and hagrid say odd things under the influence of alcohol. I never intend to drink and harry potter has done nothing to influence me otherwise.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 16:07:50
How naive would you have to be to go out and drink just because "they do it in Harry Potter"? Seriously, why do people insist that we dont have out own brains to think with? Im not gonna go out and buy something because it was on an advert. I have my own mind.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 16:17:25
Oh, an to "iwantorlando05" - Hermione is 17 in book 6. Book 6 is sixth year, you start sixth year at 16 and turn 17. But still, we know 17 is the "come of age" year in HP so she must be legal. But again, they have been drinking Butterbeer since third and, apart from Winky, the alcohol content has never been an issue, so the drink musnt be illegal to sell to them. Having said all that though, I never noticed a "tipsy" Hermione in the film until someone pointed it out - I thought she was just being friendly because theres no one that was drunken behaviour. But again, like my previous comment, who is that naive to copy things they see??
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 17:01:07
WTF?!
Thats insane! How can anyone ever even say that?
Underage drinking isnt and never has been because
of it being in movies. AT ALL. Especially Harry Potter.
In my opinion, it has to do with all the stupid parents
who act like drinking is such a bad thing and you should
never do it, and then the kids are like fudge that, and do
it anyway. Which I dont blame them. I mean, I was
raised to think alcohol wasnt bad and wasnt a big
deal and I was even told I could underage drink
as long I wasnt doing it in public and I didnt
screw up my liver by getting drunk. And now
I have no desire whatsoever to drink alcohol,
not even when I can legally. I just have no
interest in it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 17:03:12
People just want something to complain about... Btw wasnt there a part in the fifth book were Ron wanted Firewhiskey from the Hogs Head and Hermione yelled at him for it. Also, Ron nearly died after drinking the mead.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 21:02:31
wow this article is ridiculous! there are plenty of OTHER movies that show people getting COMPLETELY WASTED! not to mention other things. this article is a piece of crap!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 21:25:13
Oh, you its obviously just the stupid New York Times trying to latch onto some of Harry Potters success. They know that if people see HARRY POTTER in thier newspaper, those people are going to buy the paper. They couldnt come up with a decent story, however, so they just made this bogus crap up
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 21:25:55
Oh, you its obviously just the stupid New York Times trying to latch onto some of Harry Potters success. They know that if people see HARRY POTTER in thier newspaper, those people are going to buy the paper. They couldnt come up with a decent story, however, so they just made this bogus crap up
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 21:26:42
Oh, you its obviously just the stupid New York Times trying to latch onto some of Harry Potters success. They know that if people see HARRY POTTER in thier newspaper, those people are going to buy the paper. They couldnt come up with a decent story, however, so they just made this bogus crap up
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 21:26:43
Oh, you its obviously just the stupid New York Times trying to latch onto some of Harry Potters success. They know that if people see HARRY POTTER in thier newspaper, those people are going to buy the paper. They couldnt come up with a decent story, however, so they just made this bogus crap up
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 21:26:45
Oh, you its obviously just the stupid New York Times trying to latch onto some of Harry Potters success. They know that if people see HARRY POTTER in thier newspaper, those people are going to buy the paper. They couldnt come up with a decent story, however, so they just made this bogus crap up
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 21:29:32
Oh, you its obviously just the stupid New York Times trying to latch onto some of Harry Potters success. They know that if people see HARRY POTTER in thier newspaper, those people are going to buy the paper. They couldnt come up with a decent story, however, so they just made this bogus crap up
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 21:34:30
sorry about that^^ it was my first post :-X
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 22:19:00
i get the whole "media influence" point, but butterbeer and firewhisky arent real drinks that kids can get their hands on... i mean ive had a drink called "butterbeer" but it was a kind of coffee at one of the book releases many years ago. since i was about 9, i very much doubt there was alcohol in it. i actually always thought butterbeer was sort of like root beer -- just because it says "beer" in it doesnt mean it actually is beer.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 22:58:46
Hmm... You guys seriously didnt think Hermione was drunk in that butterbeer scene? I mean, did you see the way she was acting? Hermione would not act like that normally... I agree that this study is pretty dumb and pointless, but I think that scene with Hermione was dumb and unnecessary and they could have easily left it out.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 23:25:23
yeah hermione was obviously drunk, she was stumbling around when they were outside and she looked a little too happy. so i guess that does mean butterbeer is alcoholic, unless they changed what butterbeer is for the movie?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 23:39:57
I love me some firewhisky.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-28 23:55:47
Actually, if the writer of the article did any sort of in-depth research (which most dont) and used some logic, Hermione was well within the law. Hermione was born September 19, 1979; therefore, during the winter of her sixth year, when she was drinking at The Three Broomsticks, she was 17, of age in the Wizarding World that she is a part of. She was an adult (in the Wizarding World) and legally able to do everything that goes along with that, including drinking alcohol (assuming that is what she was even doing).
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 01:43:29
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 02:06:51
Oh dear, how silly! When I first saw the title of this I assumed theyd be making a fuss about the potions. Ron and Harrys reaction to those was much more "alcohol" related. No, Im sure they were surprised by Winky getting drunk on butterbeer in book 4 it implied that it didnt effect humans at all. As for Hermione, the reason for her behaviour was far more subtle than that. I saw her throwing a friendly exaggerated arm around Harry just so she had an excuse to throw one around Ron - I thought that had been fairly obvious, but apparently not!
Anyway its all very silly, like many things in our world, banning or lecturing young people about something is a sure way to push them into it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 02:56:06
Ah, Ive found it.
As they watched her, she gave an enormous hiccough.
"Winky is getting through six bottles a day now," Dobby whispered to Harry
"Well, its not strong, that stuff," Harry said.
But Dobby shook his head. "Tis strong for a house-elf sir," he said.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 03:10:42
....Really?
I mean....seriously?
Wow.
The only thing I thought referenced to alcohol when I watched this movie was Harry acting like he really was drunk on Felix, but otherwise...they;ve been drinking butterbeer ever since they have been going to Hogsmeade, and I think its Firewhisky thats strong and meant for adults in the books.
Anyways, this is completely ridiculous.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 05:48:10
ok ever the mugglecasters have comented that this book had more acahol in it and the movie is being realistic with slughorn and hagrid people drink when somone dies its what happens and gosh butter beer is not acaholic any one who thinks that has issues sorry ranting but that is the stupidest artical i may have ever read
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 11:43:05
Good grief the New York Times should lighten up, for a start and then get their facts right. The legal age for drinking in the UK is 18, and yes 16 and 17 year olds can have A drink as long as they are with an adult and are having a full sit down meal. They have mis quoted the British licensing laws just so they can sensationalise the action of characters from a BOOK! (And I work in a bar so I know the laws on alcohol and under age drinking).
Ridiculous story.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 13:16:15
ummm harry8voldemort, ron didnt nearly die from just drinking the mead! he nearly died from drinking POISEND mead. so that kinda doesnt count.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 15:50:14
Movies never influenced me to do things. Why? Well...see...my parents told me that...movies arent real. Its a really amazing concept, actually. I wonder if anyones thought of that one?
God help us when they see the Firewhiskey in the next one ;-)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 15:53:10
Movies never influenced me to do things. Why? Well...see...my parents told me that...movies arent real. Its a really amazing concept, actually. I wonder if anyones thought of that one?
God help us when they see the Firewhiskey in the next one ;-)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 16:35:50
They seem to forget that Hagrid gets himself in trouble when he drinks too much and that Slughorn lets himself be dooped into telling Harry what he didnt want to tell him. JK shows there are consequences to being drunk in her books they just dont play a major roll to the story. Yes some kids might get the idea that drinking isn
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 16:40:17
They seem to forget that Hagrid gets himself in trouble when he drinks too much and that Slughorn lets himself be dooped into telling Harry what he didnt want to tell him. JK shows there are consequences to being drunk in her books they just dont play a major roll to the story. Yes some kids might get the idea that drinking isn
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 18:20:44
... they seriously have nothing better to do?? seriously? pathetic.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 18:54:34
"Ron is sipping mead". Er, its mead, hes seventeen, and its Britain. Not a big deal. Loads of British parents give their 16-17-year-old children wine, and mead is quite similar to wine. When I was 17 I stayed at a friends house in Britain and his parents didnt think twice about giving me wine with dinner. I also went to the pub with my friends, which is perfectly legal from the age of 14 in many pubs (as long as you dont drink if youre under 18), and Butterbeer is supposed to be weak (probably something like a 2-3% ale which in the middle ages was given to *children*).
Seriously , have they got nothing better to do than complain about underage drinking in a fantasy film? Next thing you know theyll complain about teenagers drinking ale in a film set in the middle ages.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 20:28:49
Harry Potter is now contributing to murder outbreaks in several countries around the world.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 20:36:55
DRINK UP MATEYS! I feel Some Firewhisky ahead in Deathly Hallows! ;)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-29 23:56:21
Wow ok then...butterbeer dosnt even have alcohal in it. Only house elves can get drunk off it, wizards dont. So idk why they are making a big deal out of the 3 Broomsticks scene. And Slughorn and Hagrid getting drunk is cannon so get over it. Plus of all the things to go crazy about in that movie(inferi,poisons,murd er..) they choose the alcohal consumption??? ok...
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-30 03:07:24
ok this another example of how stupid people can be and how they cant find anything wroung with the series so they talk about how they have a few drinks once or twice a book like they make it seem like they aare drunks who always have a butter beer in there hands and party late into the night and its a british book and in the uk people can drink at age 14 so ya that is were the book comes from so ya they should include it like i am a HUGE fan of the series and when i read that they are having a butter beer i dont think that o well if harry drinks thaen i should do that and if any one does then that is there owne danm faltt for being so thick and why should harry potter haave to suffer cause some people have decided that they were gonna be a bunch of prats and complane about the best booko series ever wrote so they can take it up with the millions of fans and jo as well so i say that to jo that if people have to pick at such tiny things in a 2000 plus book series then that is a mojor compliment to jo and the series so i say so jo that if she reads theses people to thank them for the compliment :D
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-30 03:24:15
Okay...shes 17 in book 6. I got mixed up. But still that doesnt make this whole article any less ridiculous. I still cant figure out why they dont feel the need to bring up the drug references while theyre so busy talking about the supposed alcohol use. Harry is clearly supposed to be high off his butt in that Felix Felicis scene...the same can be said for Ron in the Love Potion scene...but no they talk about a scene in which Hermione is tipsy for like 2 seconds.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-30 11:14:12
This is absolutely ridiculous. J.K. Rowling was totally safe when she put the small amount of alcoholic beverages in her books. The LEGAL drinking age in The UK is 16, and this is where the books take place. If it was America Id see their point, but even so Its absolutely dumb that they pick on this book series. First the Witchcraft, and now this its absolutely dumb! They really need to get all their facts straight. Theyre going to put parents in to a paranoid panic state that they dont need to do. The alcoholic beverages play such a minor part in the books its silly. The main focus is the theme of good vs. Evil. I took a literature class where we addressed this issue because one of the students in this class was concerned. It was mostly with Butterbeer, I told her Butterbeer is just like our Rootbeer, it doesnt mean anyharm and its non acoholic. She pointed out the happening with Winky and the Butterbeer (For those of you who ONLY watch the Movies, youve missed alot of detal, Winky is [in the Books] Barty Crouchess House Elf) That it got her drunk, I pointed out that it could effect her differently because shes a different Species. The New York Times is making a mountain out of a molehill.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-30 16:31:24
AnaBarth2006: The legal drinking age in the UK is 18, unless theres a meal being served (in which case its 16) or its in a private residence. So Harry, Ron and Hermione were technically breaking the Muggle law by drinking in a pub without having food, but in practice in Britain many, many 16 and 17-year-olds go to pubs and drink without food.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-30 19:03:14
Quote from GOF (not sure what page) about butterbeer:
Harry: "But its not strong, that stuff?"
Dobby: "Tis strong for a house-elf."
So apparently butterbeer has SOME alcohol in it, though probably not much at all, surely not enough to make Hermione "tipsy" after one drink. And she "sobers up" pretty quickly when Katie Bell is attacked. Also, technically it is not underage drinking. In the 6th book, Hermione is 17 years old, which is OF AGE in the wizarding world, so even if she was drinking firewhiskey, that would technically be allowed. Ron turns 17 soon after (the love potion/poisoned mead sequence), so he would be as well. Also, I looked up mead on dictionary.com, and it said:
mead1   ;[meed]
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-30 19:10:38
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-31 00:02:12
It said mead didnt have to be alcoholic.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-07-31 17:55:10
Umm...when is there even any alcohol intake in HBP? Or any of the HP movies for that matter?
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