Drinking Culture Research Paper

Drinking culture, both in the United States and China, has transformed over generations of time. Dating back to the prohibition, alcohol consumption has played a big role socially in American history. In the United States- due to advertising, availability, and the social norm of drinking- there is a growth in alcohol related problems. The social norm of binge drinking, a major shift in the drinking culture, is geared towards groups and seen largely in college age students. “In the college setting, the individual perception that others in the peer network are binge drinking and that they approve of binge drinking has been associated with the same drinking behavior in individuals” (Ahern, 2008). This phenomenon leads to poor drinking habits …show more content…
Many students adopt the social norms of drinking in a college setting and are guided by the already prominent social habits of their peers. “Drunkenness was depicted as a highly desirable social performance that represents risk taking, entertainment, physical exploration, sexual traps, and contextual behavior within this college subculture” (Tan, 2012). College is used as a sense of experimentation and exploration in which students are spontaneous and reckless, including the use of alcohol. Due to the widespread ability of alcohol, inconsistent enforcement of underage drinking laws, limited interaction with parents, and the influence of a strong Greek life system or athletics program, alcohol consumption is playing a huge role in the college …show more content…
Seen as an institution of wealth and a social construct, drinking is heavily accepted among both cultures. Through religious means to social occasions the consumption of alcohol is prevalent in all aspects of both cultures. The countries both offer rules and regulations when it comes to the consumption of alcohol. According to drinkingproblemsandsolutions.org, a website dedicated to informing and supporting the alcoholic community worldwide, the drinking age in China is 18. This forces people who are not of age to not be able to drink, much like the United States drinking age of 21. Another similarity in drinking culture among the two countries is the fact that the majority of young people not of age have tasted alcohol before legally being allowed too. According to a world health organization study, chinese young people are drinking more than ever before. 48.6 percent of chinese 18 year olds state that they have consumed alcohol before the legal age of 18 in their respective county. This is much like the United States. According to the Center For Disease Control (CDC), eleven percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States is consumed under the age of 21. (CDC, 2013) Stating it is also the number one drug consumed and abused by persons