What is “the alcohol problem”?

What is “the alcohol problem”?

John D. Pratten

Department of Business and Management Studies,

Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the problems which exist in the excessive use of

alcohol and to consider the origins of these problems to determine if they are new or long established.

Design/methodology/approach – There is a heavy use of secondary sources drawn from the

whole of the period studied. This is augmented by discussions with licensees, retired licensees and

older customers, to collect their reflections on the industry.

Findings – The main problems caused by the excessive use of alcohol are not new, but go back

centuries. As the users of alcohol itself have changed, so the attention paid to these problems has been

intensified.

Research limitations/implications – The paper reports the key problems of excessive alcohol

consumption and examines some of the causes. Further work could examine such causes more

carefully, and could include regional studies for comparison purposes.

Practical implications – The paper demonstrates that there are a variety of problems and suggests

that they should be addressed individually rather than seeking one answer to a series of age-old

questions.

Originality/value – The topic should be of interest to all those who claim to be concerned by

excessive alcohol consumption.

Keywords Alcoholism, Social change, Lifestyles, United Kingdom

Paper type General review

Introduction

There is much evidence of the medical dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. It is

also accepted that this can cause serious domestic problems to the families of those

affected. Alcohol can also result in violence and criminal damage. Such anti-social

behaviour has received much publicity. The effects of binge drinking, especially

among young people, has become a regular feature of many newspapers. Some have

even suggested that many town and city centres have become unsafe in the weekend

evenings. This type of reporting implies that such problems are new ones, created by a

modern cult of heavy drinking. This paper seeks to examine that concept and identify

some of the real problems that may result from improper use of alcohol. It questions the

idea that there is a single issue, but a variety, each of which can and should be

addressed separately.

The problems caused by alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption can cause problems to both users and those who come

into contact with them. Alcohol Concern is a UK charity on alcohol misuse, established

in 1984 “to reduce the incidence and costs of alcohol-related harm”. Its study on alcohol

research (Alcohol Concern, 2002) declared that 30,000 early deaths a year are

attributable to alcohol misuse. It claims that about one million children live with

parents who have drink problems, and that alcohol-related health problems cost the

National Health Service (NHS) around £3 billion a year, with deaths from liver

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at

www.emeraldinsight.com/1755-4217.htm

WHATT

1,2

88

Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism

Themes

Vol. 1 No. 2, 2009

pp. 88-96

q Emerald Group Publishing Limited

1755-4217

DOI 10.1108/17554210910962486