Alcohol as a Social Problem - Coursework Example

Alcohol as a Social Problem By Yuliya Your Academic Organization Alcohol has become a serious issue in the United s, and abroad, and isoften attributed as being a social problem. Alcoholism, the desire to consume excess amounts of alcohol, is often the end result of stress, depression, or general dissatisfaction with life. Some argue that alcohol is an inherited disease, and is therefore not preventable. However, this paper will argue that alcoholism is very much a social problem which can be managed by appropriate social programs and public policies. Alcohol as a Social Problem Introduction Alcohol is considered the most socially-acceptable recreational drug in the United States, with the average adult cited as consuming almost 40 gallons of alcoholic beverages every year, including beer, wine, whiskey, vodka, and other distilled spirits (Henslin, 2003). Each year, over 750,000 Americans, an overwhelming statistic, seek assistance for treatment of alcohol abuse, while over 20,000 people continue to die each year from alcoholism (Henslin). These statistics highlight the broad negative consequences of alcohol consumption, however the question as to why people in America (and across the globe) continue to abuse the drug can be answered by recognizing that alcoholism is a social problem and can be combated by new social policies. There are individuals in society and in the clinical field of research who argue that alcohol is an inherited genetic factor, offering that alcohol consumption cannot be controlled. However, research in the field of sociology highlights that alcohol is not a genetic disease, rather it is argued that alcoholism can be battled by understanding the motivations that drive people to drink heavily. One noted clinician argues that alcoholism is a biological disease that directly affects the brain, suggesting that the introduction of excess alcohol only occurs in individuals with a genetic inclination toward addiction (Waldo, 2000). Researchers who point toward alcohol as a genetic problem believe that alcohol addiction is caused by uncontrollable, biological processes. This basically implies that todays alcoholics are a product of family genetics and that these individuals cannot control the urge to over-indulge in alcohol products. However, social studies tend to indicate that alcoholism is created by social factors, each of which will be discussed in this paper. Teen Pressures and Alcohol Consumption Henslin (2003) reports that 73.2% of high school seniors, today, use alcohol regularly, with many similarly-aged students in college regularly reporting that they have gone on alcohol-drinking binges in recent years. Even more startling, statistics show that by the eighth grade, over 40% of children have used alcohol, despite legislation that prohibits underage drinking (Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA, 2006). College-aged binge drinkers experience a great deal of negative consequences from the activity, including missing classes, unexpected pregnancies, fights with campus authorities, and drunken brawls (Henslin). So, having pointed out many of the negative repercussions for alcoholism, why is alcohol so widely accepted on campus and during the senior high school years? Students are often pressured by adults to meet a higher standard of academic performance, with todays social emphasis on building skills to land high-paying jobs (Morris & Maisto, 2005). In the United States, especially, the pressure to achieve academically creates excess stress, with teenagers turning toward alcohol to escape from pressures to succeed. Alcoholism amongst this group is also described to be an outcome of frustration, or a situation that occurs when a person is prevented from achieving a specific goal (Morris & Maisto). In reference to the teenage alcoholic, oftentimes this frustration comes from external pressures to succeed in their studies. For instance, a student with high grades who does not get accepted to his or her desired Ivy League University will feel frustrated and view themselves as a failure, thus turning to the bottle for relief (Morris & Maisto). What all of this suggests is that alcoholism among teenagers is growing, as they are regularly exposed to pressure from external sources. In todays college campuses, drinking or binge drinking is becoming more socially acceptable, with students utilizing alcohol as a means to escape the demands of successful studies. Social Construction and Alcohol Society often paints the picture of what is considered socially acceptable by use of popular culture and product advertisements. Ball & OConnell (2006) suggest that television and movies, primarily, contribute to excess alcohol consumption in todays young females, citing shows such as "Sex in the City", which pictures cocktail-guzzling young females, as the root cause for alcoholism in this group. The authors argue that a heavy promotion of alcohol in social environments is a primary factor behind the growing use of the drug in the United States. Ball & OConnell clearly make a qualified statement, as anyone need only to turn on the television (or flip through a magazine) in order to witness how alcohol is, today, widely promoted in a variety of literature. Shows such as "Sex in the City", a situation comedy-drama set in New York City which highlights the lack of morality in single women, clearly glorifies alcohol drinking from a social perspective. Is it any wonder, then, why young women are steadily becoming alcoholics? If they view shows such as "Sex in the City" as their moral compass, by applauding the cocktail-drinking habits of the women on this show, this clearly illustrates that alcoholism can be attributed to a social problem. In relation to product advertisements, critics argue that huge advertising budgets and eye-catching alcoholic beverage commercials continue to contribute to alcoholism (Wilcox, 2005). Many of todays television commercials which spotlight alcohol products use extraordinarily-attractive actors, in socially-inviting settings, generally persuading the viewing audience that drinking alcohol is a staple and socially acceptable activity. The focus of many of these television ads is to link sexuality with the alcohol brand, thus making it even more attractive to impressionable young men and women. This process of advertising alcohol touches on marketing ethics, as companies who link sex and sexuality with alcohol are using a system known as puffery, which are cited as exaggerated product claims that are not generally true (Boone & Kurtz, 2007). It is the ethical responsibility of todays alcohol manufacturers to recognize that such deception (or puffery) is unethical, and is contributing to a growing problem with alcoholism in the United States. The Hunger for Money Young women, in todays contemporary society, are cited as establishing families later in life, thus they have a larger pool of disposable income than ever before (Ball & OConnell). In many instances, the desire for a good-paying career outweighs early desire to get married. However, despite this statistic, many people in todays society are cited as being largely unhappy in life, feeling as though their basic needs for love and mutually-rewarding, romantic relationships are unfulfilled (Henslin). Therefore, in many cases, women who have chosen career over love find themselves longing for meaningful relationships, thus turning to alcohol to temporarily escape this void. What this suggests is that women who choose career over marriage are essentially choosing the dollar over their own basic requirements for romantic love. The advent of internet dating sites, which are heavily promoted today, tends to illustrate that love and social togetherness, from a romantic perspective, are universal desires for people around the world. When one chooses money and career over marriage and romance, according to Abraham Maslow, a renowned psychologist, their very basic human needs for love and support are being denied (Morris & Maisto). In this instance, alcohol consumption is merely an escape for a lifetime of bad choices regarding career and relationships. Conclusion The common thread which ties together all of the reasons for growing problems with alcohol is American societys viewpoint on success and career. The American society is a capitalistic society, with much of the emphasis being placed on money, career and education as a path toward personal success. This can be illustrated by todays teenagers and college-level young adults who turn to alcohol as a means to escape pressure to excel. Similarly, with todays companies so largely focused on profitability, using unethical or puffery tactics to sell more alcohol also clearly shows that demands for money create alcoholism as a social problem. In similar respect, women who abandon marriage in pursuit of careers, and become alcoholics, are also impacted by the external, social pressure to find a quality career first. This all implies that todays social leadership must recognize these pressures and promote social change in order to stop alcoholism in the United States. First, in relation to teenage binge drinking and alcoholism, social programs which promote parents to provide more positive feedback regarding academics would be extremely beneficial. This could come in the form of on-campus lectures on the subject or pamphlets which identify common pressures for todays youth. With such literature and parental acknowledgement of teen drinking, alcoholism among the American youth can be virtually eliminated. Secondly, perhaps young alcoholic females who turn to the bottle for support, rather than through marriage or romantic relationships, need more quality television programming which de-emphasizes alcohol use. Society must recognize that shows such as "Sex in the City" are fantasy, and do not represent the real-life attitudes of todays young adult society. Essentially, young women should be informed to look toward other reference groups when determining what is acceptable behavior. The government should intervene to regulate such programming and also to illustrate the harmful effects of drinking in young women. Finally, government intervention is also required to prevent todays alcohol manufacturers and retailers from glorifying alcohol from a social and romantic perspective. Society should show an intolerance for such advertisements, making public boycotts of the product until the advertising has been changed. Such actions would promote social unity regarding the desire to end alcoholism, thus creating pressure on advertisers to minimize false product claims or using sexuality to sell the product. It is clear that society, especially American society, has a way to go in preventing alcoholism, however recognizing the causes of the problem is the first step in promoting positive change. Alcohol drinking, in moderation, is not a problem. However, when pressures to succeed and profit-hungry companies exploit alcohol to encourage over-consumption, society must act quickly to spare todays young adults from a lifetime of alcohol abuse. References Ball, D. & OConnell, V. (2006). Mixed Company: As Young Women Drink More, Alcohol Sales Concerns Rise; Hungry for Growth, Industry Rolls Out More Alcopops. Wall Street Journal, New York, N.Y.: p.A.1. Boone, G. & Kurtz, D. (2007). Contemporary Marketing. 13th ed. Thomson South- Western: 552-553. Henslin, James M. (2003). Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach. 6th ed. A & B Publishing, Boston: 583, 587. Medical Letter on the CDC and FDA. (2006). Alcohol Use: Seventh and Eighth Grades are Peak Years for Beginning Alcohol Use in the U.S.. p.18. Morris, C. & Maisto, A. (2005). Psychology: An Introduction. 12th ed. Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J.: 166-171. Waldo, W. (2000). Alcoholics should not be blamed for their disease. Alcoholism. Current Controversies Series, San Diego, Greenhaven Press. Wilcox, Gary B. (2005). Does Beer Advertising Affect Overall Consumption in the United States? American Academy of Advertising, Conference, Proceedings. Lubbock: 145-147. Read More