Alcohol culture is the cultural aspects of drinking alcohol. It encompasses the social habits, customs, traditions, and other features of alcohol consumption and misuse. Alcohol culture is dynamic and ever-changing. It varies from one geographical area to another as well as within different subcultures within the same geographic area.

Alcohol culture can also be influenced by a variety of factors including social norms, religion, laws, economics, geography and politics. Some cultures view drinking alcohol as a more acceptable way of interacting with friends and acquaintances than others do. In some agrarian societies, for example, alcohol may have been required as part of a ritual or ceremony to establish cooperation between two communities that would then work together in the future.

Today this practice remains in many parts of the world but it is often misunderstood by people from more urbanized societies where it appears unusual or strange. The following list incorporates peer-reviewed journal articles that discuss issues concerning alcohol consumption and misuse in various cultures around the world:

Europe

Alcohol use has been and continues to be a major public health issue in Europe. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Demand, approximately half of Europeans consume alcohol at some point in their lives, and 17 per cent consume it on a daily basis. Alcohol consumption in Europe is usually lower than in other parts of the world, however, some European countries have a much higher alcohol consumption rate than others.

According to Eurostat, the average European consumes 26 litres of pure alcohol per year, which is about 3 litres less per capita than the Japanese. The highest per capita consumption is in Estonia where the average European consumes almost 93 litres of pure alcohol per year, which is almost 2 litres more than the average American. However, the average per capita consumption in Europe is still relatively low when compared with the total alcohol intake in other parts of the world.

United States

In the United States, about one-third of the adult population drinks alcohol. Alcohol use has been increasing among Americans in recent decades. The increase in alcohol use is most evident among young people. As a result, more young people are drinking alcohol and getting alcohol-related diseases. In addition, more people are getting into trouble with the law as a result of alcohol problems.

There are many reasons why more people are drinking more alcohol in the United States, including the growing popularity of wine, the increased availability of beer and other alcoholic beverages in grocery stores, and the decline in the price of wine and beer.

Japan

Japan is one of the few countries in the world that has enforced a complete ban on alcohol. The ban on alcohol has been in place in Japan since the end of World War II. During this period, Americans were allowed to enter Japan under the “Rape of Japan” Ordinance. However, the ban on alcohol re-started in April 2018, which is now unless the U.S. military terminates the policy by October. As a result, Japanese tourists may have to travel to other countries to legally buy alcohol. The government, which is led by the Liberal Democratic Party, is hoping that this measure will help curb the rising number of deaths among Japanese alcoholics. In 2018, there were at least 1,200 deaths among Japanese alcoholics and many of these deaths were attributed to liver diseases and other related disorders.

India

India is often considered as the most populated country with the highest consumption of alcohol in the world. A recent study has shown that approximately two-thirds of the population consume alcohol at least once a year. The study also shows that there are some disparity in alcoholism levels within different states of India.

For example, while only 10 per cent of the people in Gujarat consume alcohol, the number increases to 40 per cent in Andhra Pradesh. The people of India consume a wide range of beverages such as wine, spirits, beer, and country liquor. Most people, especially the elders and the upper-middle class, drink wine.

Latin America

The consumption and sale of alcohol is illegal in most countries in Latin America. However, many of these countries have relaxed the laws to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages in certain regions. For example, Argentina permits the sale of wine in select regions. Brazil and Mexico allow the sale of beer and spirits, respectively.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average person in Latin America consumes about one-fifth of a drink once a month. In addition, the WHO has also reported that more than half of people in Latin America drink alcohol regularly and more than a quarter of them drink at least once a week.

Africa

Alcohol use has been rising rapidly in Africa in recent decades. The reasons for this include increasing alcohol availability, increased ease of purchasing alcohol, and changing social norms. For example, in the past, many Africans would view drinking alcohol as a sign of being immoral or a bad person. Today, however, many Africans view drinking alcohol as a sign of being modern or having a high social status. African countries with the highest levels of alcohol consumption include South Africa, Tanzania, and Nigeria.

South Africa is the leading consumer of alcohol in Africa with the average person consuming about nine drinks per week. In Tanzania, the average person consumes about one drink per week and in Nigeria, the average person consumes about one drink once every two weeks.

Conclusion

The use of alcohol has been part of many cultures throughout history. In some cultures, people may drink alcohol as part of religious ceremonies while in others it may be viewed as a social lubricant. Alcohol has been consumed as a beverage in many parts of the world throughout history and continues to be consumed in many places around the world today.

There are many different factors that influence the culture of alcohol consumption in a given geographic area. It is important for individuals to understand the social norms and cultural practices associated with alcohol consumption in order to make responsible decisions about drinking.