Social Aspects of Alcohol Uses - Research Paper Example

Social aspects of Alcohol uses Social aspects of Alcohol uses The social and cultural roles of alcohol in a given society play a large role in influencing the relationships members of that community. The research papers investigate the cultural rationale over what is considered “underage” and “of age” with the alcohol consumption practices. Moving past difficult drinking, prevention of alcohol, and treatment programs, it is imperative to comprehend the normalness of alcohol and how it can control social aspects of a culture. Most of the alcohol consumption in the world is classified as non-problematic but is often overlooked in favor of more influential studies about dysfunctional drinking habits and solutions. Understanding alcohol as a complex socio-cultural phenomenon will help researchers to have a better grasp of specific cultural factors associated with antisocial and problematic drinking. Additionally, it will help them learn as to why problematic drinking isn’t an issue in societies where alcohol use is more readily accepted. Looking specifically at the cultural differences between defining “underage” and “off age” will show that universal guidelines regarding the consumption of alcohol may not be realistic for all groups. Alcohol consumption overview and use in society In today’s society, drinking of alcohol has increasingly become an important activity. However, to some people in the society, the preference they give alcohol exceeds that of food. On certain occasions, a number of men and women in today’s societies have lost their lives because of excessive alcohol consumption. Consequently, the increasing need for what is commonly referred as ‘liquid refreshment’ is becoming a major influence on community’s evolution (Anderson et al. 2010). Many societies consider the drinking behavior as important for the entire social order. Nonetheless, for a modern complex society that has subgroups of people with different ages, the pattern that each group reflects special distinctiveness and the society’s cultural frame. Therefore, the drinking cultural practice ranges from keen immersion to complete rejection. Role of alcohol as part of social structure In many societies, people drink to celebrate, relax, and to socialize. However, its consumption has a strong effect and may vary differently from every user. Conversely, a number of factors determine how an individual may act under the influence of alcohol. These factors include; age, health status, frequency of drinking, amount of alcohol consumed, and the family history. Many people from different societies reason that drinking alcohol in itself is not a problem but drinking excess alcohol may have negative consequences. Also, a variety of risks associated with excess alcohol consumption may result. When both the youth and the old consume alcohol, it enters the bloodstream, and the effects can be felt after about ten minutes of consumption. Therefore, the concentration of alcohol increases in the body as one continues to consume more alcohol. The higher the alcohol blood concentration (BAC), the more impaired the person become and may have even adverse effects (Mandelbaum 1965). These effects include the following; slurred speech, confusion, coma, reduced inhibition, motor impairment, and death in some cases. Other risks that one become susceptible also to include; violent and risky behavior, suicide, and even car crashes. For cultures where there is more than one type of alcohol, the classification of the drinks are normally done by their social meaning and also used to define the social world in general. However, every alcohol in the society has a symbolic meaning and sends a specific message. For many societies, alcohol has become like a figurative vehicle that is used in the identification, description, construction, and manipulation of the cultural systems, values, relationships, expectations, and behavioral norms. The role played by alcohol in society is, therefore, an issue of personal taste. At a simplified level, alcohol is used in the definition of an occasion’s nature. For instance, Champagne is synonymous with parties or celebrations such that whenever it’s served, the minds of the people ring on celebrations (Sande 2002). Additionally, in Austria, ‘sekt’ which is a form of alcohol is usually served on formal occasions whereas ‘schnapps’ is served in a convivial and a more intimate gathering. From these examples, it can be deduced that the choice of alcohol defines the nature of the event at hand or the relationship of the people involved in the drinking. Also, the choice of a given drink also dictates how the drinkers will behave and to an extent, the design of the bottle will also determine how the drinkers will behave in terms of dressing and talking (Chrzan 2015). For societies that are less bound by the long alcohol customs and traditions, social meaning of different beverages is clearly understood and defined. In the US, research was conducted, and the findings were that, wine is regarded as the most suitable supplement in a meal. However, spirit and wine, and not beer are drinks that are considered appropriate for celebrations. On the other hand, beer is regarded as the being appropriate for a more informal and is relaxation-oriented. Certain cultures with recognized traditional heritage practices, situational appropriateness perceptions may involve subtle and complex distinctions, and the rules governing the use of some classes of drinks are probable to be observed more rigidly. For instance, in France, aperitif is always served at the end of a meal, the white wine earlier than red wine, whereas digestifs and brandy come before a meal. According to these traditions, any violation of having a specific drink when it is not intended is a serious violation. Therefore, every drink should be taken at an appropriate occasion and time. To other societies, alcoholic drinks may be considered as an indicator of social status (Sande 2002). For instance, imported drinks unlike the local beverages are considered to be of a higher status. Therefore, every society perceives alcohol differently, and its use is dependent on the occasion at hand. In today’s world, the drinking habits in homes have been on the rise and parents tend to drink even in the presence of their children. The continuous act of drinking alcohol by parents directly influences the children especially the teens to get injected to alcohol at a young age. Research shows that most parents are the main source of alcohol for teens that drink. However, most teens in America are first introduced to alcohol at home and that parents make alcohol available in the home that in turn enhances accessibility. In the Mediterranean countries, the integration of alcohol is so advanced to an extent that it’s served on a family table during every meal. As such, the chances of teens getting intoxicated at a tender age are so high. Therefore, the attitude of parents towards alcohol gives an indirect representation means of the social modeling. However, thus may be communicated excessively through setting communication values relating to the use of alcohol by the parents (Chrzan 2015). Research has it that alcohol drinking parents are more probable to display permissiveness to use of alcohol to their adolescent children. The permissiveness that parents display has been proved to be the major influence of teenagers to uses alcohol at an age regarded as a tender age. Whenever these teens are introduced to alcohol consumption at home because of the parent’s permissiveness, they tend to turn out and become heavy drinkers when they come of age. A key risk factor to drinking of alcohol is the presence of problems associated with alcohol drinking among the parents. A consistent study about this has found out that parents who own the use of alcohol increases the probability that their children at adolescent would engage in the use of alcohol. Once these teens engage in alcohol drinking, the risk associated with alcohol will be more likely to be prominent in them when they become adults. Because of these reasons, many unfortunate and harmful trends in drinking of alcohol are acquired from home. In general, the today’s societies have given the teens a platform and a direct exposure to alcohol since from many homes; alcohol has become part of them and is even served during meals. Consequently, children, during their adolescent age, get involved in drinking and become prone to become heavy drinkers (Bloomfield et al. 2006). For families where both parents drink alcohol, chances that their children will turn out to be drunkards are also so high. However, with the problems associated with alcohol, it can be proved that excessive alcohol consumption may not be something to make an individual proud. For families where alcohol drinking is considered evil or wrong, the children in those families hardly drink even when they become adults in future. Even for families who proclaim alcohol negatively always, their teen children will always think twice even before using alcohol. Therefore, this is enough evidence to prove that, teenagers acquire the drinking behavior from parents at home and the society at large. It is, however, true that a drinking society bring forth children who turn out to be drunkards in future. For many parents especially those who drink at home, the general assumption is that, they believe that their children can only be influenced by the internet, video games, and their peers to drinking alcohol (Morris 1998). Rarely will the parents realize that they are the main point of influence on their children towards certain behavior. Alcohol consumption in many countries is governed by many laws especially when persons considered to be underage indulge in drinking. For example, in the UK, any persons below the age of 18 years is considered as underage and is, therefore, illegal to sell or buy any form of alcohol from any alcohol selling outlet. In case an adult tries to buy alcohol on behalf of an underage, the seller reserves the right to refuse selling him alcohol. The policies governing alcohol consumption for many countries are almost similar. However, the big question is, has this stopped alcohol consumption among teenagers? Alcohol use among teens has been on the rise not only in the United States or the United Kingdom but most parts of the world. Uniquely, Mediterranean countries have been taking the lead in the number of adolescents taking alcohol. On the contrary, certain laws in some countries such as the UK may also promote the drinking behavior among teenagers. For instance, in the UK, someone teenagers of ages 16 and 17 years may be allowed to drink alcohol on a licensed premises whenever an adult accompanies them. In such a case, it is legal for these teenagers to drink beer, wine, or cider with a meal on a table (Sande 2002). Such occurrences have been so common in the UK with parents visiting licensed premises with their teenagers and buy them alcohol hence promoting consumption among teenagers. Whenever this is made a tendency, addiction may follow suit hence enhancing susceptibility of these teenagers to become heavy drinkers in future. Rituals that associating with alcohol use The misuse of alcohol can be harmful to both the users and nonusers and may result in the negative effects in the society at large. A common belief in a society that embraces alcohol use is the reduced worker productivity, an increased accidental injuries, violence, and aggression, and child-spouse abuse among many more negative consequences. Many research studies have proved that some of this social problem is mostly common in societies that have embraced excessive alcohol consumption. For instance, at a place of work, excessive alcohol consumption can affect work performance (Bennett 2009). First, people with a drinking problem and alcohol dependence, are always absent at work more frequently because of health problems associated with drinking. As a result, this absenteeism by employees comes with a significant cost to employers, social security system, and employees. Productivity is also likely to reduce at work whenever an organization has most of its employees as heavy drinkers (Bloomfield et al. 2006). Heavy drinking may result in unemployment among the employed and may in turn result into more drinking that is risky. In the UK, about 25% of work-related accidents are common at work whereas about 60% of serious accidents at work are linked to alcohol. Additionally, workplace accidents attributed to alcohol use is about 40%. For a family, drinking can affect how someone performs as a partner, parent, or even the household functions. The result is that, it can have a long-term effect on their family members through violence and accidents. For family members who are not directly affected, the result may lead to fear, depression, and anxiety. However, whenever the mother drinks excessively, the children can undergo Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). After birth, drinking among parents may result in child abuse and other effects on the child’s psychological, economic, and social environment. Additionally, parents who drink away from home spend less time at home. Their absence may affect the well-being of the children and other family members (Bennett 2009). Alcohol is addictive, hence may result in overspending of ones money at the expense of building the family may be spent on alcohol thus, in the long run, rendering the family destitute. The legacy of alcohol dependence in the present day is taking many forms such as rites and rituals that are focused majorly on drinking. Through a young person’s life, rites of passages are an integral part of his development. However, this has been abused since most youths create their rites of passage. The created rites of passage such as abuse of alcohol are common among the youth. A normal rite of passage is always characterized by the following features; separation phase, transition phase, and reincorporation phase (Morris 1998). However, the common rituals among youths relating to alcohol use include; champagne parties, drinking test in a pub, or having a bottle of beer while watching a game. The thoughtful appeal does not always focus on an understanding of the youth’s psychological needs. As a result, the youths usually practice the use and abuse of alcohol as a rite of passage. However, it is important to a find a different approach to controlling the juvenile use of alcohol among the youths. In attempting to obtain an answer to this confusion among the youths, a challenge arises. The challenge is developing a significant and safe rites of passage for these youths that would enable them prove their worth in an appropriate way. The best approach to this is by encouraging the youths to stop using dangerous means in expressing their worthiness in society. Means such as the risky and addictive incapacitating ritual activities like the use and abuse of alcohol should be avoided as they may mislead the youths to destruction (Bennett 2009). Engaging the youths in designing, administering, and monitoring such rituals may offer youth advisors helpful habits to reducing abuse and use of alcohol than trying to ban all that the youths consider as rites of passage behavior. For instance, most college students who are heavy drinkers use alcohol as an integral to their roles as students and even feel free to drink irresponsibly. However, these heavy drinking in college are a belief that has existed for decades now. Additionally, the belief concerning alcohol consumption and the college experience has contributed largely to the rising levels of alcohol consumption. The predicament has been similar to and the extent to those of other variables that are commonly associated with the heavy drinking risks. For any group in society, share behavior and beliefs facilitate the bond between folks serve as a source of identity. The rituals provide them with a sense of belonging, inevitability, and emotional well-being (Chrzan 2015). Some parents consider teenage drinking as a rite of passage. Such parents drank alcohol when they were in high school and have no problem when their children indulge in alcohol consumption. The legal age at which somebody is allowed to consume alcohol depends on the laws of every country. These laws cover a wide range of issues and behavior. The laws address where and when alcohol should be consumed. For many countries, underage drinking is considered as a serious predicament in the society. Concerning the issues of the drinking age, two schools of thoughts have been in conflict. One school of thought focuses on the reduction the rate at which alcohol is consumed all through the population. The proponents of this school of thought propose that high taxes should be imposed on alcohol drinks. Also, restrictions on selling and advertising alcohol in the media should be reduced according to the proponents of this school of thought (Sande 2002). The school of thought also tends to support measures that limit access to alcohol up to as well as an absolute ban in certain cases. On the other hand, another school of thought claims that prohibition measures put in place would instead increase the damage caused by alcohol. For instance, alcohol consumers of a younger age would indulge in underground drinking that may be disastrous and may lead to advanced effects. The school of thought supports the efforts such as lowering the age at which people are allowed to drink so as to teach the underage to drink reasonably. The proponents of this school of thought believe that these measures would persuade the young people to look for help suppose they get in trouble. A lack of consensus on who should drink continues to troubles many societies today (Morris 1998). Therefore, drinking alcohol continues to be a point of focus of difference and sometimes amounting to political conflict amid large groups in the society. In certain localities, a total prohibition exists only for strong wines and distilled spirits. In some localities, only adults of over ages 18 or 21 years are allowed to buy alcohol. While for some, women married at underage are allowed to buy alcohol whereas married underage men are not allowed to buy. However, for the Italians, Chinese, and the Jews considered to be having a well developed cultural accord against the use of alcohol and drunkenness among the youth that are considered as underage. As a result, these countries low rates of alcohol consumption among young people below the age in which they are considered as adults (Bennett 2009). The contrary is seen in the UK and France where alcoholism is favored, and statistics shows the number of underage youth below the age of 18 years indulge in the harmful practice of drinking alcohol. The drinking patterns are displayed in different ways and cultures in diverse parts of the world. These differences in patterns are also seen in different subcultures and subgroups within the larger society. Underage drinking has over the past decade presented an enormous public health concern. The reason for this is because, alcohol has been the drug of choice among adolescent in the US (Heath 1987). Annually, approximately five thousand youths below the age of twenty-one die from car crashes because of drunkenness. To some of these underage youths, unintentional injuries and suicide and homicide occur at an alarming rate yearly. Although friends play a significant role in underage drinking, the family has a direct influence on alcohol consumption among the youth. For every normal society, the behavior of children is shaped by parents or even the guardian. The influence ranges from the time when the child is introduced to alcohol, to exposure, and finally into adult ingestion of alcohol and drunkenness. In the UK, alcohol consumption among the youth has been on the rise because of influences from the family and especially from parents who drink before their children. However, a number of factors influence underage drinking (Morris 1998). These factors may vary from different individuals. For instance, age is one of the strongest forecasters. In general, the younger an individual gets introduced to alcohol, the higher the chances that they will automatically become drunkards. Influence of friends is another major cause of underage drinking. During adolescent, most youths are likely to indulge in alcohol drinking through the influence of peers which is common in the US and most parts of the European countries. Additionally, the regularity of drinking within the family is also another important factor that leads the underage bracket to drink alcohol (Peele 2009). Research has it that, underage are likely to become drunkards if at least one member of the family drinks at least in a week. In general, easy access to alcohol among young people is the major contributor to underage drinking. The level of drinking by friends offers a strong influence hence increasing the rate of drunkenness among young people of the underage bracket. Therefore, the frequency at which underage youths spend time with drinkers multiplies the odds of excessive drinking four times more. The influence becomes even stronger when these underage youths are in the company of elderly drinkers who they look up to in life. One major factor that is associated with underage drinking is peer influence. How these underage teenagers perceive, the behavior of their friends contributes largely as to whether they will be heavy drunkard or not. Drinking friends, therefore, influences the amount of alcohol that the underage teenagers will drink. Also, parents influence strongly, the alcohol-related behavior among young people through monitoring and supervision, and also play a role in behavior modeling (Heath 1987). Unfortunately, young people may behave in a certain way with alcohol if they have a belief that it is acceptable to act in that way. The anticipation with the intention of drinking to have fun increases the chances that those youths will indulge in drinking. As opposed to that, the fear that the youth would not be able to discontinue drinking or become sick may reduce the chances of drinking. Conflicts between underage and of age Underage drinking is a situation when a person under the age of 21 years drinks alcohol. Therefore, it is a risk attracting many teens and adolescents. Whenever young people try alcohol, they do not always realize the damaging effects of alcohol. They do not always know the damage alcohol can have on their families and the entire community. Over the past, alcohol played a major role in all human cultures since the Neolithic times. However, underage drinking is becoming a social activity that is undertaken by small groups usually consisting of close friends. As the youth starts to experiment drinking, the group starts developing a set of habits, beliefs, and rituals around their behavior of drinking. Collectively, these beliefs become their drinking culture (Room 2004). The social structures of our societies also play a significant role in promoting underage drinking. For instance, the patterns of drinking in our culture are unique in each drinking group. The reason for this is because, each independent group has shared beliefs, norms, and knowledge about alcohol use. Although major differences in the culture of drinking exist from one group to the other, there are many common transitions that can easily be identified. Argument about ‘underage’ and ‘of age’ Underage drinking has become a dynamic phenomenon that is linked closely to maturational and social changes that the young people undergo during their teenage years. Therefore, the drinking etiquette is evolving rapidly because of the strong association between drinking style and the age factor. Within a short period, the drinking culture of young people usually progresses very fast from trying alcohol and then moving to bars and pubs. Conversely, their patterns of drinking go through considerable changes include the volume and type of alcohol consumed. In most societies, parents have tried to restrict their children who are considered as under from drinking through having rules for them. The parents have also tried to monitor the behavior of their children, but the teenagers still managed to circumvent the set strategies by the parents (Peele 2009). The parents and responsible members of the society have tried to provide boundaries for this teenager’s free time with an effort to restrict alcohol consumption opportunities. On the contrary, the level of alcohol consumption among the underage, has been on the rise despite the societal restrictions. In each culture, drinking of alcohol has rules that govern the activity. In the modern societies, the rules that govern drinking of alcohol in different cultures, classes, and sub-groups may be at variance with the main drinking culture. Therefore, most drinking cultures have norms that are never static in nature and many factors may bring forth significant changes in the drinking practices. The most vital of these cross-cultural constants in the societal norms controlling the use of alcohol is almost a social taboo on introverted drinking. The main hindrance to prevent alcohol use among underage youths is because most of them are usually in situations where alcohol consumption is tolerated. The school-based interventions, therefore, cannot address all situations in which these underage youths exist. Nonetheless, efforts made by the communities with the existence of school-based interventions program, may lower alcohol use among young adults and youths (Beccaria & Sande 2003). The efforts made by the community include; the limitation of alcohol sale to minors and enforcing laws against underage drinking. Also, changing policies governing alcohol consumption among the youths at the community level is important. The initiatives also include increasing public awareness about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption among the underage. Conclusion In conclusion, controversies surrounding alcohol consumption in many cultures continues to rise as the set regulations governing alcohol consumption is violated. More concerns have especially been among the youths considered as underage. The issue concerning the age at which one is allowed to drink also been a problem since many schools going age among young people consume equally high levels of alcohol. However, to eradicate this, a number of policies and regulations have been put to help curb the menace of excessive alcohol consumption but little has been achieved. For many countries, one is considered underage before attaining the age of 18 years, to some its 21 years (Chrzan 2015). Despite the age limit restriction, a number of young people still engage in excessive alcohol consumption. The phenomenon has created a belief among the underage that alcohol consumption is never wrong. The notion has since created a drinking culture among the underage that has become a major problem in today’s societies. A major contributing factor to the rising level of alcohol consumptions among the youths is the environment from which these youths operate. These environments include; the homes, schools & colleges, and the social circle influence among others. The environment, therefore, has played a significant role in determining the behavior of these youths. With a continued rise in alcohol consumption among the youths, the society has made lots of efforts to bring this down all in vain (Peele 2009). These behaviors among the underage have created in them a complex belief that they consider as a rite of passage. A complete solution to this menace calls for a collective communal effort to reduce the alarming levels of alcohol consumptions among members of the society. References Anderson, David S., Hugh Gusterson, Elizabeth E. Hanfman, and Peggy K. Stull. "Understanding Teen Drinking Cultures in America." (2010). Teen Alcohol Cultures. George Mason University. Web. 16 Mar. 2015. . Room, Robin. "Drinking and Coming of Age In A Cross-Cultural Perspective." Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility 654-677 (2004). NCBI. National Academies Press. Web. 16 Mar. 2015. . Mandelbaum, D. (1965). Alcohol and culture. Berkeley, California: [Institute of international studies, University of California]. Chrzan, Janet "Social and Cultural Aspects of Drinking." (1998). Social Issues Research Center. Social Issues Research Center. Web. 16 Mar. 2015. . Bennett, L. 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