The Use of Alcohol in Society Essay examples - 2058 Words

Throughout history, society has engaged in taking substances such as alcohol, that alter our physical being or our psychological state of mind. There are many experiences and pressures that force people to feel like they have to drink in order to cope with life, but for many alcohol is a part of everyday life, just like any other beverage. Alcohol is introduced to us in many ways, through our family, television, movies, and friends’. These â€Å"sociocultural variants are at least as important as physiological and psychological variants when we are trying to understand the interrelations of alcohol and human behavior†#. How we perceive drinking and continue drinking can be determined by the drinking habits we see, either by who we drink with,†¦show more content†¦has led to abuse and deviancy, creating a high frequency of alcoholics. People drink in many ways, for many different reasons. We drink socially, to gain acceptance into a group. We drink alone to ease stress, to cope with our problems, or we â€Å"drink because we like the taste or how it makes us feel†#. Often drinking is a learned behavior, starting out as a social drinker; you quickly become psychologically and physically dependent. When someone reaches this stage they are often classified as an alcoholic. To an alcoholic, drinking becomes a compulsion; they cannot stop themselves from having another drink, like a social drinker can. In many cases alcoholics don’t even have to drink continuously in order to be an alcoholic. One the problems of alcohol addiction is that it’s something that doesn’t just effect the individual but it effects, friends and family as well. Spouse abuse, child abuse and dysfunctional family relationships can all be influenced by alcohol abuse. In the United States alone the drinking patterns throughout history have changed dramatically to reflect the times. Starting out in colonial times the usage of alcohol use was seen as a blessing, and harmless to society. It was acceptable to drink while at work, and during social events, however drinking alone was highly frowned upon. Many early religions believed that alcohol was a gift from God, â€Å"man should partake of God’s gift with out wasting or abusing it†#. To enhance and encourage the socialShow MoreRelatedImpact of Alcohol Use on American Society Essay2511 Words   |  11 Pages Alcohol is a drug that is classified as a central nervous system depressant. There are three forms of alcohol, beer, wine and distilled spirits. Alcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States and has more adverse effects that most other drugs combined. There are many aspects to consider when thinking about alcohol as a drug. There are many myths surrounding al cohol, including who uses it, what its effects are on users, social and sexual situations and the amounts people drinkRead More Effects of Underage Drinking on Society Essay1100 Words   |  5 Pagessuch a person from consuming alcohol. Alcohol happens to be the most commonly abused drug not only among the youth but also among adults. This paper explores underage drinking, its effects on the society and outlines what can be done to curb it. Young people are considered to constitute the largest number of alcohol consumers and they account for a large portion of alcohol sales. This is despite the strict drinking laws that govern many countries as regards alcohol purchase and consumption. UnderageRead MoreAlcoholism : A Growing Problem1468 Words   |  6 Pagesgrowing problem in today s society. What is alcoholism? Is it a disease? What are the causes of it? What toll does alcohol abuse have on individuals? American society? American economy? What kind of treatments are available to reduce/cure alcoholism? What is alcoholism? Alcoholism is a physical or psychological need for an alcoholic beverage, which is taken for non-medical reasons and produces a noticeable effect on the body (Sheen 93). People develop the need for alcohol for many different reasonsRead MoreThe Church And Alcohol Abuse905 Words   |  4 PagesThe Church and Alcohol Abuse The Church s Teaching on the Use and Abuse of Alcohol The Scriptures and the practice of the Church see alcohol as a gift of God. The Psalms praise God who has given us wine to gladden our hearts, (Ps. 104,15) and the Gospel tells of Jesus providing wine for the wedding celebration at Cana. Every Sunday we gather at the altar where at Jesus’ command we offer and receive wine that has become his blood by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures and the Church areRead More The Problem of Teen Alcoholism in the United States Essay1102 Words   |  5 Pagesparticular. Alcohol use among teenagers is a serious problem and is responsible for death and injury in automobile accidents, physical and emotional disability, deterioration of academic performances, aggressive behavior that causes a number of other sociological problems in families and among friends. It is also the primary cause of criminal behavior and a leading cause of broken marriages. As we know its a broad topic therefore Ill look at the role that alcohol plays in the society and its impactRead More Drugs and Alcohol Essay1107 Words   |  5 PagesDrugs and Alcohol For nearly 85 years, the government has prohibited pscychoactive drugs. American leaders attempted to do the same to alcohol with Prohibition in the 1920?s. In any society, drug use plays a part in the people?s culture. Whether it be a native taking hallucinogens for a religious ceremony, a destitute alcoholic drinking on a city street, or a group of teenagers smoking marijuana, drugs and alcohol have the same effects in any culture. The question of ?why do people use drugs? hasRead MoreThe Effects Of Long Term Alcohol Use On The Brain1482 Words   |  6 Pages Alcohol is the result of the chemical process known as fermentation, which is essentially the putrefaction of yeast and sugar into a consumable intoxicant. The earliest examples of alcohol consumption were evidenced by beer recipes from Mesopotamia, written in Cuneiform on clay tablets. These tablets are considered one of the earliest forms of written language. Alcohol has long been considered an integral part of society, but its effects on physical and mental health, and social standing continueRead MoreAlcohol in Our Society; Huxleys View in Relation to Brave New World833 Words   |  4 PagesAlcohol in Our Society; Huxley’s View in Relation to Brave New World Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is a science fiction book that captures both the good and bad sides of cloning and mass production of humans through science. Huxley’s book, published in 1932, conveys his well-developed and disturbingly accurate ideas about human behavior in what was then the distant future. In addition, his writing measures the capacity for which humans can obsess over not only having a perfect societyRead MoreAlcohol abuse1512 Words   |  7 Pages Alcohol abuse in the society. A review of the literature Abstract Alcohol abuse is also a serious medical and social problem, but is not the same as alcoholism. Alcohol abuse isRead MoreThe Causes Of Addiction In Pop Culture And The Media795 Words   |  4 PagesIn American society, pop culture and the media hold heavy influences over citizens and the government. We have a mixture of cultures in America, but one thing has been prevalent for decades. Alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs have always had a prodigious place in American society. We promote the consumption of these substances in commercials, songs, movies, etc. We as a people are responsible for the power that these substances have. Despite this, we ridicule those who consume them. Of course, there