As Harry Potter fans crowd movie theaters to catch the latest installment in the blockbuster series, parents may be surprised by the starring role given to alcohol. In scene after scene, the young wizards and their adult professors are seen sipping, gulping and pouring various forms of alcohol to calm their nerves, fortify their courage or comfort their sorrows. Alcohol Has Major Role in Latest Potter Movie – NYTimes.com

As a rabid Harry Potter fan (Hey, old guys had childhood and adolescent fantasies too!) I almost pooh-pooh’d this, until I got some distance into the article. I’m not sure that it’s all that big a deal, given that we live in a culture where billions are spent on ads for alcohol related to sporting events such as football and NASCAR, but it’s something to think about.