Alcohol Consumption

This paper attempts to enumerate and describe some of the reasons individuals consume alcohol. It does not claim to list all of the many reasons but hopes to highlight several of the more prevalent. The introduction states some relevant statistics, including the number of people who consume alcohol and at what frequency. It takes into account various categories such as age, race, and class. The introduction explains that while many people consume alcohol to some extent, the reasons vary greatly. The first discussed is the most obvious: pleasure. This section looks at how many people drink because they enjoy the effects. It also describes what the reported effects are. The second reason discussed is also one of the more obvious: social. This section reviews reports of people who drink to socialize with friends. The third reason discussed is people who drink because of stress levels due to work, family, or other outside pressure. An analysis of fifteen in-depth reviews about alcohol consumption with Lynn University students, aged 21 to 24 is also included. The paper concludes by explaining that not all of the reasons can be addressed, especially when those who drink for negative reasons is a very complicated and complex subject. This paper does not intend to be a source of judgment on whether or not these reasons for drinking are valid. Rather, the purpose is to illuminate and give a better understanding of drinking and individuals’ various motivations for doing so.

References

Gross, W. C., & Billingham, R. E. (1990). Relationship Between Egocentrism, Alcohol Consumption And Reasons Given For Drinking. Psychological Reports, 67(2), 459-464.

Smith, M. J., Abbey, A., & Scott, R. O. (1993). Reasons for Drinking Alcohol: Their Relationship to Psychosocial Variables and Alcohol Consumption. Substance Use & Misuse,

28(9), 881-908.

Snow, R. W., & Wells-Parker, E. (1986). Drinking Reasons, Alcohol Consumption Levels, and Drinking Locations among Drunken Drivers. Substance Use & Misuse, 21(6), 671-689.