A look at drinking

Press, 20 July 1977, Page 17

A look at drinking

A documentary on drinking, which had a marked community response in the United States, is to be screened by TVI on Monday, August 8, at 9.40 p.m. It is called “Drink, Drank, Drunk,” and was produced by MQED, Pittsburgh. Its host is Carol Burnett, whose parents both died as alconolics. The Emmy-winning team of Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor, as well as noted actor, E. G. Marshall, are among the many leading performers and writers taking part. The programme consists

of a series of dramatic and human interest vignettes, original music, and discussions of problem drinking by people who have lived through it. Charles Hauck, who produced the special, researched the documentary with the United States National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, as well as various other agencies. Mr Hauck said: “We are particularly interested in reaching the alcoholic’s family with this programme. There never has been a prime-time television programme to talk

to those who live and ' work with alcoholics; it is t as important to help them I as it is to help the alcoho- | lie.” The New Zealand | Society on Alcoholism and I Drug Dependence, which persuaded the Broadcasting Corporation to get the documentary, says: “We know alcoholism causes confusion. We know of the constant uncertainty in the families of alcoholics. This programme shows that anyone around you could be an alcoholic, but offers you common-sense help if they are."