The Mixed Messages In Our Society About Drinking
Alcohol
By Denny Soinski
How can something as prevalent, accepted, and accessible in our
society as drinking alcohol be so harmful, unhealthy, AND
illegal when consumed at or slightly above moderate intake
levels? The simple asking of this question immediately
uncovers a number of issues, one of which is the mixed messages
that exist in our society about drinking alcohol.
The Accessibility and Acceptability of Alcohol
On the one hand, consider the thousands upon thousands of bars
and taverns in the United States. Now add to this list the
restaurants, night clubs, sporting events, festivals, state
fairs, hotels, casinos, carnivals, etc. where alcoholic
beverages are regularly served. Moreover, add the grocery
stores, liquor stores, beverage stores, the Convenient Food
Marts, the 7/11 stores, and the state stores where an adult can
legally purchase as many bottles, cans, and/or cases of
alcoholic beverages as he or she desires.
Is Drinking Alcohol Cool?
Not only is alcohol extremely accessible in our society but
there are also a number of factors that reinforce the idea that
drinking alcohol is “cool.” For instance, consider beer
advertisements and commercials on TV. Indeed, it can be argued
that some of the most memorable, funniest, and “best”
commercials and advertisements on TV have been those that were
associated with drinking beer. To push the point further, why
would beer manufacturers spend millions of dollars for a
commercial during the Super Bowl if this expenditure did not
lead to more sales? From a slightly different perspective,
consider professional athletes and movie stars who, by their
actions and advertisements, reinforce the idea that drinking
alcohol is “cool.”
Religious Rituals and Cultural Traditions
When religious rituals that make use of alcohol, cultural
traditions that encourage drinking alcohol, special events and
holidays that are associated with drinking alcohol, and the
increasing popularity of adding alcohol to food for enhanced
flavor--when all of these are factored into the equation, it
becomes obvious that alcohol is deeply ingrained in our
society. The point: when people are surrounded with alcohol
and bombarded by events, traditions, holidays, and
advertisements that are alcohol-related, it becomes part of
their socialization process that in turn makes it easier to
simply accept that they should drink alcohol if they are to
“fit in” and become members of our society.
Alcohol Abuse and Drinking While Driving
If the prevalence, acceptability, and accessibility of alcohol
represent the one side of the coin regarding the mixed messages
in our society, then the dangerousness, unhealthiness, and
illegality represents the other. Indeed, consider the numerous
negative and harmful messages and statistics associated with
alcohol abuse and drinking while driving that we have heard
from the medical community, federal government, police,
politicians, organizations such as MADD, and school and college
administrators.
Mixed Messages and Their Consequences
When something like alcohol use is so intimately ingrained in
the fabric of our society, it becomes extremely difficult to
significantly alter its use and abuse in a comprehensive and
beneficial manner. I assert that one of the consequences of
the mixed messages about alcohol use and abuse in our society
it that it becomes extremely difficult for many individuals,
especially our youth, to realistically see the destructive,
unhealthy, and sometimes fatal aspects of alcohol abuse.
The Influence of the Judicial System
Unfortunately, the judicial system and the ways in which it has
dealt with alcohol-related offenses is another example of the
mixed messages in our society about alcohol. For instance,
until very recently, people who have received multiple DUIs
have, in many instances, simply received a “slap on the wrist”
for their alcohol-related behavior.
Fortunately, some states are becoming more reality and
accountability-based and are making it a felony when a person
receives his or her 4th DUI within a ten-year period. In
Minnesota, for instance, this sentence includes three years in
prison and a fine of not less than $14,000.00.
Incarceration AND Treatment
Sending people to jail for alcohol-related offenses, however,
is not a viable “solution” unless the person receives help for
his or her alcohol problem while incarcerated. True, the
offending person is “off the streets” while incarcerated. When
the jail or prison sentence is completed, however, a person who
has received alcoholism treatment while incarcerated is more
likely to become a responsible person who doesn’t continue to
drink while driving and less likely to become a repeat
offender.
Responsible Behavior
I am not necessarily disagreeing with those who preach
“responsible behavior” regarding drinking. The bottom line,
however, is one’s definition of “responsible behavior.” Let me
explain. Let’s say that I have a lake that is used for swimming
and that for whatever reason, hundreds of snapping turtles have
populated this lake. Some people may say that “responsible
behavior” in this example consists of warning all swimmers
about the turtles and telling them to “be careful” while
swimming. Others with a different point of view, however,
might say that “responsible behavior” in this instance means
warning the swimmers about the turtles, telling them to be
careful while swimming, AND, at the same time, significantly
reducing the turtle population so that there is less chance
that the swimmers will get bit.
What Can Be Done?
If our society is more enlightened and more aware of the health
hazards, fatalities, and destructive consequences of alcohol
abuse and alcoholism, then why don’t we practice "responsible
behavior" and make alcohol less available, less advertised,
less glamorized, and less “cool” while at the same time
increasing the advertisements, commercials, and public service
messages that emphasize healthy and safe alcohol-free
activities and lifestyles?
About the Author Denny Soinski, Ph.D, writes about alcohol
abuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol testing, alcoholism, alcohol
recovery, alcohol treatment, and alcohol rehab. For more
information, please visit http://www.About-Alcohol-Testing.com.
