Excessive drinking is considered a deviant act that is not encouraged by the majority of the communities across the globe. The deviant and disruptive behavior associated with the huge consumption of alcohol may harm not only the person who is under the influence but other people too. People who participate in excessive drinking, especially in a continuous manner, are labeled “drunkard” or other similar terms. Even though excessive drinking is highly ostracized in society, there are differences in the treatment of individuals, depending on their background.
For example, women who participate in excessive drinking are more likely to receive a negative response from society in comparison to their male counterparts. It is because the reproductive rights of women are still being debated and under protected, therefore, they do not regain the same autonomy over their bodies as men do. This means that women who drink are judged by society because they are expected to have children. The economic status significantly affects the community’s perception too: society is less likely to ostracize rich people indulging in drinking due to their authority and access to high-quality liquor, which does not have a bad stigma like cheap alcohol. Age also plays a role in determining the level of deviancy: young people, especially those who did not reach the minimum legal drinking age, are judged by the older members of a community.
Excessive drinking is not encouraged in the United States, however, alcoholism is still a huge problem in American society. In countries such as the UK, especially Ireland and Scotland, excessive drinkers are less likely to labeled as deviant. Even if they are, they usually participate in the process of embracing the label, described by Henslin (2019). Drinking is an essential part of British culture, where they have the highest concentration of pubs and other drinking establishments.
Reference
Henslin, J. M., Possamai, A. M., Possamai-Inesedy, A. L., Marjoribanks, T., & Elder, K. (2019). Sociology: A down to earth approach. Pearson Higher Education AU.