Social Drinking

Social drinking is the consumption of alcohol within limits to induce socialization and to participate in cultural norms. Individuals partaking in social drinking do so for many reasons, including as a social lubricant at parties or bars, with meals, at family functions, among friends, on a date, or as part of cultural traditions. The consumption of alcohol in a safe, legal, and responsible manner and keeping one's blood alcohol level lower than legal limits are within the realm of social drinking. Social drinking does not include consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol. Obviously, if a drinker experiences negative consequences from alcohol consumption (e.g., being arrested for driving under the influence [DUI], vomiting, blackout), this is not considered social drinking. Social drinking is also referred to as moderate drinking. The commonly accepted definition of moderate drinking is consumption of two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Social drinking is prevalent throughout society, and patterns are often determined by family and peer influence, socioeconomic factors, cultural and demographic factors, and alcohol advertisements.

Family and peer attitudes toward alcohol and societal norms affect individuals' social drinking patterns. Social drinking behaviors can begin as early as adolescence and evolve throughout one's life. Young people's alcohol use is often modeled after parental drinking behaviors, alcohol expectancies, and peer influences. The need to facilitate peer interactions and foster socialization may increase an adolescent's probability of participating in social drinking. In addition, misconceptions about alcohol use among peers influence adolescent and young adult social drinking behaviors. Adolescents' perceptions of quantity, type, and setting of alcohol consumption among peers may determine drinking patterns. Social drinking attitudes may also shift because of life-changing events, including increased responsibility, career changes and promotions, new financial obligations, marriage, and parenthood.

Socioeconomic status is also related to alcohol consumption. Individuals from different socioeconomic groups may have different attitudes toward alcohol consumption. Socioeconomic status can also be a determinate of type of alcohol consumed and manner in which it is consumed. Types of bars, parties, and events may determine the type of social drinking that occurs, and the motive for consumption can often be linked to socioeconomic status.

Cultural norms describe the function of social drinking and often set limits for individuals to abide by these norms. Narrowing down drinking patterns among ethnic minorities in the United States is difficult because [Page 833]of the many subgroups within each population. Moreover, a number of influences affect the drinking patterns of each ethnic minority group. These may include cultural norms, attitudes toward drinking, socioeconomic stress, historical factors, racial tensions, availability of alcohol, regional norms, local laws, employment, marital status, and personal values.

Traditional Hispanic cultural norms, although not representative of all subgroups, endorse alcohol consumption by males and promote abstention among females. The "machismo" cultural norms describe the behavior of Hispanic males as more likely to partake in social drinking. African Americans report higher rates of abstinence from drinking than do Caucasians. As in the Hispanic population, there is no clear sense regarding drinking patterns among the diverse subgroups of Asian Americans. Low levels of alcohol consumption among Asians are linked to ancient Confucian and Taoist philosophies focusing on harmony. Other Asian cultural influences stress responsibility and promote moderate drinking behaviors. In addition, drinking in many Asian cultures takes place in social situations in which it is expected that moderate drinking will occur. Native American social drinking behaviors vary from tribe to tribe. Many Native Americans abstain from alcohol use, while others partake only in social contexts. In many instances Native Americans may refrain from consumption and reduce alcohol consumption as they assume tribal responsibilities. In other instances members of this population may consume at dangerous levels.

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