As is often seen on reality TV alcohol and heaving drinking abounds. It is the worst kept secret of reality TV that producers often make alcohol much more available than food while also encouraging its use to get better footage / scenes. An article in the New York Times exposes this HERE.
On the 2nd page of the article it speaks specifically about Ruthie Alcaide of Real World Hawaii as she began binge drinking, passing out, vomiting, and driving while drunk during the Real World in 1999. The producer of the Real World, Jonathan Murray, said that on Ruthie’s application it stated that she drank as much as any other college student. So to him it was an interesting wake up call to learn that many college students were binge drinking. They avoided intervening until she got behind the wheel when extremely drunk upon which they had her sent to a clinic.
At the clinic Ruthie asked if she was an alcoholic and they told her she was engaged in problem drinking. She has battled her problem drinking along with the stigma that continues to be attached to her. Although she still drinks, she has learned moderation and speaks about it at college campus nationwide using her public exposure on the Real World as an example of alcohol abuse.
Jon Murray’s final statement would echo that of most if not all reality TV producers regarding alcohol on their shows, “It just wouldn’t be real if we didn’t let them have it.”
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