ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

Pricing and Alcohol Consumption

Pricing and Alcohol Consumption

Introduction

Alcohol is a culturally acceptable, legal drug that is part of the lives of many men and women. However, alcohol dependency can occur when alcohol is consumed on a continued basis in spite of negative consequences to one's overall health and well-being. The British Medical Association considers alcohol dependence, also commonly known as alcoholism, to be characterized by tolerance, the need to consume increasing amounts of alcohol to feel its effects, and the appearance of physical symptoms when alcohol use is discontinued. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, a standard for analysis in psychology and psychiatry, defines alcohol dependence as the repeated use of alcohol despite recurrent adverse psychological and physical consequences such as depression, blackouts, and liver disease. Two types of alcohol that are commonly abused are ethyl alcohol, found in beer, wine, spirits and liqueurs; and methyl alcohol, in household substances such as solvents, paint thinners, and antifreeze. Alcohol is a drug that is easily to accessible and the hefty promotion and advertising it receives, has become a genuine social issue in almost every country and in people of all ages (Parsons, 2012, p. 6).

Alcoholism can be defined as a progressive and chronic disease involving compulsive drinking of alcoholic beverages. An alcoholic will continue to consume alcohol despite the harmful effects it has on himself/herself. These harmful effects may be physical, psychological, or social. In determining the drinking patterns of people in general, genetic heritage, social class, occupational and social roles, and family history of alcohol use all play a major part However, a variety of biopsychosocial variables are distinctively related to women's use of alcohol.

Impact of Alcohol Usage

The literature points to multiple definitions of alcoholism. Jellinek (1960), a pioneer in the field of alcoholism, terms -alcoholism as any use of alcoholic beverages that causes any damage to the individual or society or bothD (p. 35). He proposes several different kinds of alcoholism, although only five varieties may come into consideration as a disease: alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon. Alpha alcoholism represents a purely psychological continual reliance upon the effect of alcohol to relieve bodily or emotional pain. Beta alcoholism is indicated by alcohol related health problems which may occur without either physical or psychological dependence upon a/coho I. Gamma alcoholism is characterized by acquired increased tissue tolerance to alcohol, withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and loss of control. Delta alcoholism shows the first three characteristics of gamma alcoholism as well as inability to abstain, and epsilon alcoholism is designated as periodic alcoholism.

Jellinek makes a distinction between alcoholism and alcoholics. He states that his definition of alcoholism does not designate as alcoholics those individuals who occasionally risk some kind of damage through their use of alcoholic beverages. He calls alcoholics only those who manifest the alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon varieties of alcoholism.

Other authors or organizations propose more general definitions of alcoholism. Cox, Jacobs, Leblanc and Marshman in their reference text Drugs and Drug Abuse (1983) look at the description of ...