WHY DO PEOPLE DRINK?

 

Why do people drink?

People drink for many reasons. The situations in which they drink and the drinks they choose are also varied.

Social drinking

Many people drink to help them relax and to enjoy social occasions more, and because they like the taste of alcoholic drinks. For adults, moderate drinking for this reason is usually not harmful and may be part of having a good time.

Some young people drink because they want to be like everyone else—their friends are drinking, and they want to be part of the crowd. Or they might drink because they think it looks cool or grown-up, or even because it is forbidden and so feels rebellious or daring. These are less-good reasons. Indeed, it is more grown-up to be independent and make your own choices, so if you don’t want to drink, stick by your decision. Often, other people are too caught up in their own activity to notice or care whether everyone is drinking.

Drinking to get drunk

Some people like the feeling of being drunk—either being a little tipsy or getting completely drunk. Binge drinking or going on a “bender” involves drinking dangerous amounts of alcohol. People who routinely drink a lot may, after a while, drink just because they have become accustomed to and dependent on alcohol and are no longer thinking about whether or not to drink.

Drinking to forget

Sometimes, people drink to forget their problems or the harsh reality of their lives. This is a sad situation in which alcohol becomes a crutch, and it can quickly lead to alcohol dependence. As alcohol is a depressant, it is not a solution to depression—it can only make things worse.

Friends and family

Seeing alcohol used around you sets mental patterns of what you consider “normal.” If you see parents and other adult family members drinking moderately, not drinking inappropriately, you are more likely to use alcohol sensibly yourself when you grow up. If you see people misusing alcohol, you are more likely to follow the same path—unless you make an effort not to do so.

If you spend a lot of time with friends who drink, or go to a lot of events where alcohol is available and freely consumed, you are more likely to develop a habit of drinking alcohol than if you spend most of your leisure time in alcohol-free environments. People often act to fit in with others without even being aware that they are doing it.

The availability of alcohol also influences how much someone is likely to drink. For this reason, the law tries to make it difficult for young people under the legal drinking age to buy or get hold of alcohol.

Written by Anne Rooney in "Alcohol", Encyclopedia Britannica/Arcturus Publishing, London, 2012, excerpts chapter 4. Digitized, adapted and illustrated to be posted by Leopoldo Costa.