| An Issue of Mixed Messages | | | | ingrained in the fabric of our society, it becomes |
| How can something as prevalent, accepted, and | | | | extremely difficult to significantly alter its use and |
| accessible in our society as drinking alcohol be so | | | | abuse in a comprehensive and beneficial manner. I |
| harmful, unhealthy, AND illegal when consumed at or | | | | assert that one of the consequences of the mixed |
| slightly above moderate intake levels? The simple | | | | messages about alcohol use and abuse in our society |
| asking of this question immediately uncovers a number | | | | it that it becomes extremely difficult for many |
| of issues, one of which is the mixed messages that | | | | individuals, especially our youth, to realistically see the |
| exist in our society about drinking alcohol. | | | | destructive, unhealthy, and sometimes fatal aspects of |
| The Accessibility and Acceptability of Alcohol | | | | alcohol abuse. |
| On the one hand, consider the thousands upon | | | | The Influence of the Judicial System |
| thousands of bars and taverns in the United States. | | | | Unfortunately, the judicial system and the ways in |
| Now add to this list the restaurants, night clubs, sporting | | | | which it has dealt with alcohol-related offenses is |
| events, festivals, state fairs, hotels, casinos, carnivals, | | | | another example of the mixed messages in our |
| etc. where alcoholic beverages are regularly served. | | | | society about alcohol. For instance, until very recently, |
| Moreover, add the grocery stores, liquor stores, | | | | people who have received multiple DUIs have, in many |
| beverage stores, the Convenient Food Marts, the 7/11 | | | | instances, simply received a "slap on the wrist" for their |
| stores, and the state stores where an adult can legally | | | | alcohol-related behavior. |
| purchase as many bottles, cans, and/or cases of | | | | Fortunately, some states are becoming more reality |
| alcoholic beverages as he or she desires. | | | | and accountability-based and are making it a felony |
| Is Drinking Alcohol Cool? | | | | when a person receives his or her 4th DUI within a |
| Not only is alcohol extremely accessible in our society | | | | ten-year period. In Minnesota, for instance, this |
| but there are also a number of factors that reinforce | | | | sentence includes three years in prison and a fine of |
| the idea that drinking alcohol is "cool." For instance, | | | | not less than $14,000.00. |
| consider beer advertisements and commercials on TV. | | | | Incarceration AND Treatment |
| Indeed, it can be argued that some of the most | | | | Sending people to jail for alcohol-related offenses, |
| memorable, funniest, and "best" commercials and | | | | however, is not a viable "solution" unless the person |
| advertisements on TV have been those that were | | | | receives help for his or her alcohol problem while |
| associated with drinking beer. To push the point further, | | | | incarcerated. True, the offending person is "off the |
| why would beer manufacturers spend millions of | | | | streets" while incarcerated. When the jail or prison |
| dollars for a commercial during the Super Bowl if this | | | | sentence is completed, however, a person who has |
| expenditure did not lead to more sales? From a slightly | | | | received alcoholism treatment while incarcerated is |
| different perspective, consider professional athletes | | | | more likely to become a responsible person who |
| and movie stars who, by their actions and | | | | doesn't continue to drink while driving and less likely to |
| advertisements, reinforce the idea that drinking alcohol | | | | become a repeat offender. |
| is "cool." | | | | Responsible Behavior |
| Religious Rituals and Cultural Traditions | | | | I am not necessarily disagreeing with those who |
| When religious rituals that make use of alcohol, cultural | | | | preach "responsible behavior" regarding drinking. The |
| traditions that encourage drinking alcohol, special | | | | bottom line, however, is one's definition of "responsible |
| events and holidays that are associated with drinking | | | | behavior." Let me explain. Let's say I have a lake that |
| alcohol, and the increasing popularity of adding alcohol | | | | is used for swimming and that for whatever reason, |
| to food for enhanced flavor--when all of these are | | | | hundreds of snapping turtles have populated this lake. |
| factored into the equation, it becomes obvious that | | | | Some may say that it is "responsible behavior" to |
| alcohol is deeply ingrained in our society. The point: | | | | warn all swimmers about the turtles and to tell them to |
| when people are surrounded with alcohol and | | | | "be careful" while swimming. Others with a different |
| bombarded by events, traditions, holidays, and | | | | point of view, however, might say that "responsible |
| advertisements that are alcohol-related, it becomes | | | | behavior' in this instance would be to warn the |
| part of their socialization process that in turn makes it | | | | swimmers about the turtles while at the same time |
| easier to simply accept that they should drink alcohol if | | | | significantly reducing the turtle population so that there |
| they are to "fit in" and become members of our | | | | is less chance that the swimmers will get bit. |
| society. | | | | What Can Be Done? |
| Alcohol Abuse and Drinking While Driving | | | | If our society is more enlightened and more aware of |
| If the prevalence, acceptability, and accessibility of | | | | the health hazards, fatalities, and destructive |
| alcohol represent the one side of the coin regarding | | | | consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, then |
| the mixed messages in our society, then the | | | | why don't we practice "responsible behavior" and |
| dangerousness, unhealthiness, and illegality represents | | | | make alcohol less available, less advertised, less |
| the other. Indeed, consider the numerous negative and | | | | glamorized, and less "cool" while at the same time |
| harmful messages and statistics associated with | | | | increasing the advertisements, commercials, and public |
| alcohol abuse and drinking while driving that we have | | | | service messages that emphasize healthy and safe |
| heard from the medical community, federal | | | | alcohol-free activities and lifestyles? |
| government, police, politicians, organizations such as | | | | Copyright 2007 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved |
| MADD, and school and college administrators. | | | | Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article |
| Mixed Messages and Their Consequences | | | | as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit |
| When something like alcohol use is so intimately | | | | the article in any way, and give the author credit. |