Exposure to TV ads and programs that promote drug abuse and alcohol can increase alcoholism and drug abuse. The show Shameless, Michelob Ultra’s Happy Super Bowl commercial, and Heineken’s Sometimes Lighter is Better advert have publicized the use of alcohol and drugs. Shameless has many scenes involving binge drinking and can impact the viewer’s attitudes towards alcohol consumption. Drinking takes place as a regular part of daily life in the show, encouraging some people to consume alcohol.
Michelob Ultra’s Happy Super Bowl commercial has used various athletes to encourage their fans to consume the product. The commercial has Serena Williams, Mia Hamm, Anthony Davis, Usain Bolt, and Brooks Koepka. The ad shows how the stars are enjoying the Michelob Ultra. Consequently, many people are likely to watch the advert, and the ad can increase consumption of the product and limit the fight against alcohol problems.
Heineken’s Lighter is Better is another advert that can impact the viewer’s attitude towards alcohol consumption. Today’s TV programming is full of references to alcohol and drinking depictions (Siegel et al., 2016). Although the advert was pulled down, it encouraged people to consume alcohol and could lead to increased alcoholism in the United States. The commercial also showed young people enjoying the drink, which could lead to increased binge drinking.
Functionalism and Symbolic Interactionism
Functionalism and symbolic interactionism theories can show why the South is the most violent region. The theory of functionalism shows how societies have structures designed to meet people’s social needs. The theory can show different issues that can lead to increased crime. For instance, education rate and employment rate are some of the aspects that can be analyzed using the functionalism approach. On the extreme, the symbolic interaction theory focuses on how people interact and their relationships in the community (Rusu, 2020). Thus, the approach can show how people from different backgrounds, cultures, and races interact in the South. I believe that the South is the most violent region due to its traditional culture known as culture of honor, which involves not accepting improper conduct by others.
Juveniles Trials
I think juveniles should not be tried as adults since the government introduced juvenile court systems. Approaches such as shock incarceration should be used since it can help change the behaviors of the youths. Moreover, shock incarceration is vital since it also involves educational programs and discipline. The reason why juveniles pursue a life of crime is due to peer pressure. Drug abuse has also increased in many states, leading to many young people engaging in criminal activities (Kennedy et al., 2020). Eliminating or reducing juvenile delinquency may involve educating young people on the dangers of crime and introducing strict policies that involve harsh punishment on juveniles found guilty of a particular offense.
Summation
The information provided in the chapters is vital since it helps readers gain information about criminal activities in society and various aspects that influence violence. The information was also fascinating as I have learned reasons why the South is the most violent region. Juvenile delinquency has also been analyzed, providing vital information on ways that can be used to limit crime among young people. The information in this module also applies to my life in various ways. For instance, it has helped me understand the need to adhere to the government’s policies. Additionally, it has helped me understand how some factors such as media can influence people’s lives and attitudes towards issues such as drug use and alcohol consumption.
References
Kennedy, T. D., Detullio, D., & Millen, D. H. (2020). Juvenile delinquency.​ Springer. Web.
Rusu, M. S. (2020). Street names through sociological lenses. Part I: Functionalism and Conflict Theory.Social Change Review, 1(ahead-of-print). Romania. Web.
Siegel, M., Ross, C. S., Albers, A. B., DeJong, W., King, III, C., Naimi, T. S., & Jernigan, D. H. (2016). The relationship between exposure to brand-specific alcohol advertising and brand-specific consumption among underage drinkers–United States, 2011–2012. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 42(1), 4-14.