Petition ‘demands Queen Vic, Rovers Return and The Woolpack are BANNED for encouraging boozing’

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A PETITION has been set up demanding iconic soap pubs such as the Queen Vic, Rovers Return and The Woolpack are all banned.

The Mirror reports the petition founder accuses Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale filming too many scenes in their watering holes, normalising excessive drinking.

A petition has been set up demanding iconic soap pubs are banned

It reads: “Coronation Street, Eastenders and Emmerdale have the local pub as a community focal point.

“In almost every episode of these soaps there is an insidious normalisation of drinking throughout what constitutes a normal day.

“Characters are not only portrayed as constantly popping in and out of the Rovers Return, The Queen Vic and the Woolpack they also open a bottle of wine at home every time a problem arises.”

The petition, which has only be signed by 10 people to date, is calling on Public Health England as well as BBC and ITV bosses to acknowledge the overuse of the pubs and home drinking in the soaps.

The Queen Vic is the focal point of the Square

Dales stars often sink pints in The Woolpack

The petition is dismayed by the amount of drinking characters do

With the Rovers a focal point on Corrie’s expensive set redevelopment, and EastEnders currently going through its own set modernisation, it’s unlikely the pubs will be going anywhere anytime soon.

Experts previously argued that the popular TV soaps should air after the 9pm watershed because of “alcoholic imagery”.

The Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies hit out at the ad breaks in Corrie in 2018, with the centre claiming that the imagery in alcohol ads has a direct link to the number of viewers over 15 who drink alcoholic beverages.

The group, based in Nottingham University, conducted the research by analysing 611 TV shows and 1,140 commercial breaks broadcast between 6pm and 10pm.

They found that half of the content viewed featured alcoholic imagery – and added that the rising trend of teens watching things on tablets and smartphones puts them at risk of being exposed to even more scenes like this.

Both EastEnders and Coronation Street have battled storylines surrounding alcohol abuse – with Linda Carter currently overcoming her addiction.