Alcohol use through the eyes of Howard Becker

Although many distinct differences exist between alcohol and marijuana use such as addiction and fatality rates, how one comes to enjoy alcohol use and in some cases become dependent on alcohol are very similar in my opinion.

Becker's thesis seemed to be that to enjoy marijuana use, or in this case the use of any substance or activity, one must first learn to use it and enjoy it. This is done by associating with people who also engage in these activities. I think this also applies to alcohol use. I remember my first time drinking it was with a few close friends, with there parents booze, and i remember coughing from the burn in my throat after the first pull. But through my continued association with people who drink, which is almost guaranteed these days, taught me first of all how to drink in a way that didn't hurt and secondly to enjoy the feelings of impairment as well as other aspects of the feeling.

But is there actually a specific drinking culture? the answer is at one level or another of course! Different alcohols are even associated with different types of people, from the girly flavored vodkas to the manly whiskys. Alcohol has become so pervasive in our culture as americans that Budweiser can claim its "Americas Beer" and almost all domestic brands in some form or another have linked themselves to american patriotism. So one must ask themselves, is the mass consumption of alcohol in america a product of its historical presence in america and its link to american pride as a whole? or is it as Becker would say, a behavior that must be learned and eventually enjoyed through association with others? I personally think that because of the massive amount of people who consume in america, it has become a part of american culture, and therefor it is very easy to learn to enjoy the activity of drinking through association.