Perceived Benefits from Controlled Drinking for Convicted Problem Drinkers and Social Drinkers

Abstract

Convicted problem drinkers taking part in an educational course on responsible drinking and social drinkers listed perceived benefits accruing from controlled as opposed to uncontrolled drinking. Both groups saw improved financial and health status as major benefits of controlled drinking. For social drinkers other perceived benefits were positive in nature and generally related to the facilitative effect of alcohol in that they tended to be confined to the drinking situation and period. Problem drinkers appeared to expect more general and widespread benefits, either through the avoidance of aversive consequences associated with excessive drinking or by effecting some improvement in their social adjustment.