McGuinness slams 'pub-focused' soaps
The makers of EastEnders and Coronation Street came under criticism from Northern Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness today for setting so much of their storylines around their pubs.
After a British/Irish Council Summit in Dublin involving all the administrations in the British Isles, Mr McGuinness expressed concern about the message soap operas sent out in the face of rising problems with under-age drinking.
“I am not a fan of EastEnders or Coronation Street but my wife and my children, particularly the girls, watch the programme,” the Sinn Féin MP said.
“I have to say I am absolutely appalled at the level of concentration around the pub in the programmes.
“I am appalled at the drunkenness that is quite clear for everybody to see and all of that before the nine o’clock watershed when children as young as eight, nine, 10 and 11 are watching.
“Now I regard that as irresponsible broadcasting and I think something should be done about it.”
