MTV’s ‘Smashed’ Explores Teens, Alcohol

A longtime print and TV journalist, MTV’s Kurt Loder knows how to present a broad topic in a concise manner. In “Smashed: An MTV News Special Report,” he manages to cram into a half-hour documentary a bevy of facts, opinions and stories regarding the issue of alcohol abuse among young Americans.

In some ways, “Smashed” is similar to the quick-cut music videos that are the backbone of the cable network. Containing snippets of interviews with more than 30 individuals, the program has a propulsive rather than a meditative edge.

But unlike most music videos, “Smashed” isn’t just a collection of empty images. If your brain can digest the flurry of often meaningful sound bites, this report does offer some food for thought.

A raging debate over alcohol policies at the University of Colorado is the program’s most dramatic segment. Following the death of an 18-year-old student because of a young, intoxicated driver and the release of a Harvard study listing the campus as a major haven for binge drinking, the college and local police recently began to crack down on underage drinking. Loder airs the views of those who support these measures and critics who believe stricter regulations encourage rather than discourage alcohol consumption.

One inspiring segment presents young people who feel that teenage rebellion carries far more weight without the presence of alcohol or drugs. “Smashed” explores a substance-free punk rock scene called “straight-edge,” a movement that first came to light in the mid-’80s.

The portions featuring young people recounting their bouts with the bottle may come across as nothing new to older viewers. But among impressionable teens and young adults, the documentary could open up some hearts and minds.

* “Smashed: An MTV News Special Report” airs at 10:30 tonight on MTV.