Alcohol as evil – Temperance and policy

Abstract

Beverage alcohol has developed indelibly different footprints in different cultures. Research shows, indeed, that how a culture views and appreciates alcohol impacts people's very likelihood of being addicted to it. In this context, the US and other Protestant English-speaking nations, and particularly Nordic ones, are characterized by intense binge drinking – amidst overall low consumption – leading to both social and health problems (including higher levels of alcohol-related mortality). At the same time, these are the very nations that propose alcohol control policies worldwide, which they support with advanced epidemiologic research. Ironically, this same research has shown how peculiar Temperance cultures’ drinking patterns are, particularly in contrast with those in Southern Europe. Yet superior-drinking cultures are ignored – even belittled – in formulating governmental alcohol policies. This paradox is explored and laid at the feet of ingrained anti-alcohol feelings that pervade Temperance cultures. One resulting subplot is the effort by leading Temperance journals and researchers to discourage alcohol producers and sellers from having any role in policy, and to punish and to ban researchers and social scientists in any way associated with producers and sellers.

• Alcohol policy
• alcoholism
• conflict of interest
• controlled drinking
• drinking problems
• Mediterranean drinking
• natural recovery
• Nordic drinking
• Temperance

Declaration of interest: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or editorial board members of Addiction Research and Theory.