Alcoholism: Society's Outcast

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the changes that have taken place over time regarding alcohol, its consumption and alcoholism. The paper looks at beliefs about alcohol in colonial America, discusses how the rise in drinking and drunkenness started to cause concern and describes attempts made to decrease heavy drinking and drunkenness and encourage more of a moderate form of drinking. The paper also explores how negative attitudes regarding alcohol abuse began to change and how the body is affected when alcohol is consumed. In addition, the paper explains why alcohol is considered to be a depressant and looks at studies on alcoholism.

From the Paper:

"The belief that wine was a gift from God was carried to colonial America, thus, alcohol use was accepted and often encouraged during this time. On the other hand, drunkenness was viewed very negatively. As the production of alcoholic beverages increased in colonial America, so did the rate of drunkenness. In fact, the Virginia colony even tried to outlaw it. Although their attempt failed, this showed society's attitude to the abuse and over- consumption of alcohol. As the production of alcohol increased, so did public drinking facilities, such as taverns. For this reason colonies increased their attempt to outlaw drunkenness. Like the Virginia colony these attempts failed. After the American Revolution, alcohol consumption changed from drinking during public celebrations and socialization to solely drinking in taverns. As alcohol increased in production, prices fell and it began to be widely available to the middle and lower classes. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Corrao, G. Liver cirrhosis mortality trends in Eastern Europe, 1970-1989. Analyses of age, period and cohort effects and of latency with alcohol consumption. Addiction Biology 3:413-422, 1998.
• Edwards, G.; Anderson, P.; Babor, T.F.; et al. Alcohol Policy and the Public Good. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
• Fishman, Ross. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Drugs: Alcohol and Alcoholism. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986.
• James Robert, Ketcham Katherine & Katherine Milam. Under the Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism. New York Bantam Books, 1993
• Ketcham, Katherine. Beyond the Influence: Understanding and Defeating Alcoholism. New York: Bantam Books, 2000.

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