TY - JOUR
T1 - Cultural variations in conceptualization of excessive drinking among young adults in Denmark, Estonia and Italy
AU - Rolando, Sara
AU - Cuomo, Gaia
AU - Allaste, Airi-Alina
AU - Fabricius, Venus Athena Vangsgaard
AU - Kolind, Torsten
AU - Läänemets, Merlin
PY - 2024/5/14
Y1 - 2024/5/14
N2 - Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the cultural meanings of excessive drinking in three different countries with different levels of alcohol use chosen as case studies of wider geographies representing Northern (Denmark), Southern (Italy) and Eastern (Estonia) Europe. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected according to the Reception Analytical Group Interview method, using video clips as stimuli to enhance comparability. Eight online focus groups were organized in each country for a total number of 128 participants. Symbolic boundaries defining what drinking patterns are socially acceptable were then analysed to look at cross-national variations. Findings: Results show how different conceptualizations of excessive drinking persist, although a convergence process among drinking patterns is also observed, which suggests that differences mainly depend on meanings and values attributed to intoxication. These are both rooted in the traditional drinking cultures and affected by ongoing social and economic change processes. Research limitations/implications: Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability, even at country level, as there are differences also within the same drinking culture; however, addressing these differences was beyond the scope of the present study, which aimed to contribute to understanding persisting differences in European drinking culture despite different drivers seem to act for globalization of drinking habits. Practical implications: The paper includes implications for the development of tailored and effective prevention messages, considering rooted attitudes and cultural values attached to drinking and drunkenness in different European geographies, which are also related to conceptualizations of risks and pleasure. Originality/value: This paper fulfils an identified need to understand persisting differences in alcohol-related behaviours and outcome in different European countries emerging from quantitative data.
AB - Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the cultural meanings of excessive drinking in three different countries with different levels of alcohol use chosen as case studies of wider geographies representing Northern (Denmark), Southern (Italy) and Eastern (Estonia) Europe. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected according to the Reception Analytical Group Interview method, using video clips as stimuli to enhance comparability. Eight online focus groups were organized in each country for a total number of 128 participants. Symbolic boundaries defining what drinking patterns are socially acceptable were then analysed to look at cross-national variations. Findings: Results show how different conceptualizations of excessive drinking persist, although a convergence process among drinking patterns is also observed, which suggests that differences mainly depend on meanings and values attributed to intoxication. These are both rooted in the traditional drinking cultures and affected by ongoing social and economic change processes. Research limitations/implications: Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability, even at country level, as there are differences also within the same drinking culture; however, addressing these differences was beyond the scope of the present study, which aimed to contribute to understanding persisting differences in European drinking culture despite different drivers seem to act for globalization of drinking habits. Practical implications: The paper includes implications for the development of tailored and effective prevention messages, considering rooted attitudes and cultural values attached to drinking and drunkenness in different European geographies, which are also related to conceptualizations of risks and pleasure. Originality/value: This paper fulfils an identified need to understand persisting differences in alcohol-related behaviours and outcome in different European countries emerging from quantitative data.
KW - Binge drinking
KW - Drinking cultures
KW - Heavy episodic drinking
KW - Intoxication
KW - Qualitative methods
KW - Young adults
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85180884461&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/DHS-05-2023-0018
DO - 10.1108/DHS-05-2023-0018
M3 - Journal article
SN - 2752-6739
VL - 25
SP - 67
EP - 82
JO - Drugs, Habits and Social Policy
JF - Drugs, Habits and Social Policy
IS - 1
ER -