Hlthage 2L03 notes - Prof is Mat Savelli PDF

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Prof is Mat Savelli...

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Lecture 4 – Alcohol Introduction -

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Alcohol holds special status in our society; it is a drug capable of producing incredible harms, but it is also widely celebrated. It is among the most consumed drugs in the world, but it is also responsible for producing an incredible degree of social and individual suffering This special status isn’t ‘natural’. Rather, it’s the product of particular social and historical developments. In other context, alcohol treated as serious (and illegal) danger o Still widely accepted in society. A very different response for alcohol vs. cocaine. Alcohol serves as a clear reminder that the meaning and status of substances are socially constructed. The legal and social status of a substance isn’t solely (or primarily) reflective of its chemical effects. Other factors (ex. Culture, history, economics, public discourse etc.) play significant rolled in shaping a substances availability and legality Key Questions: How can we account for alcohols special status? What is the purpose/function of alcohol in our society?

Meanings of Alcohol -

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Alcohol performs many roles in our society including… o Drinking is performative  it may communicate messages to others. Men drink beer and women drink cocktails. The kinds of drinks and places we drink do a lot to perform/show who we are. Drinking out of wine glass, vs. drinking from red solo cup  Ex. Drinking might suggest that we’re interested in relaxing, socializing, or celebrating. We drink in ways that others recognize and understand o Drinking can communicate identity. Styles of drinking, drinks of choice, and drinking locations all communicate personal characteristics, like gender, class, and profession  Consider what is communicated when a person drinks a fine scotch vs. a massproduced lager o Alcohol can act as a way to reinforce culture and cultural belonging. In this regard, drinking may be a symbolic act  Ex. Drinking in particular ways to reinforce national belonging (ex. Irishness) or to participate in cultural practices (ex. The eucharist) o Consumption can act as a rite of passage  Ex. As a marker of the transition from childhood to adulthood These messages are socially constructed rather than natural, being particularly disseminated and reinforced by pop culture and other forms of media

Consumption and Culture -

Approaches to alcohol are significantly shaped by culture o Ex. Styles of drinking linked to culture (ex. Shots of spirits in northern Europe vs. wine in Southern Europe) o Drunken comportment: our drunken behaviour is not simply a function of chemical change but of cultural expectations  How someone behaves when they’re drunk is a reflection of their culture  In “Time Out” cultures, drunkenness acts as an excuse to transgress the norms of social behaviour. Drunkenness is understood as a release. In such cultures (ex. The UK), drunkenness is more associated with boisterousness, aggression, poor decisions.

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In other cultures, the behaviours associated with drunkenness are more physical in nature (ex. Slurred speech, troubles with balance). In these cultures, being drunk does not carry the same connotation as break from everyday rules Other cultural theorists have emphasized the differences between ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ cultures o In wet cultures, alcohol built into the fabric of everyday life in moderation (ex. A bottle of wine is common on Italian dining tables). Children are taught to see alcohol not as something ‘special’ or ‘mystical’ but as food. These cultures are said to favour wine o In dry cultures, alcohol is seen as ‘special’. These cultures tend to favour harder spirits, and total abstinence is more common than in wet cultures. Drunkenness (as opposed to drinking) is thought to be more common in these cultures, as drinking tends to be less common but more intense Drinking cultures also shapes notions of addiction and signs of alcoholism o For instance, Californians are more likely to see drunk driving as an indicator of alcoholism, whereas Italian Americans define someone who does not care for their family as the primary symptom The meanings of alcohol and alcoholism are inherently social.

Making Modern Alcohol and Alcoholism -

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Outlawed in some parts of the world and unknown in others, alcohol was central to life in early modern Europe o Alcohol often substituted for water, since it was typically safer. Many people drank regularly throughout the day, although not necessarily to get drunk The Industrial Revolution had a dramatic impact on European society and how it understood the consumption of alcohol, with new technologies making drinks stronger, cheaper, and easier to mass produce o New industries required waged workers, who were recruited from the countryside. This was possible because of land reforms that stripped people of the ability to use common land (the Enclosure Acts). Finding themselves without a livelihood, many men came to cities. Without their familied, many turned to pubs and bars for a sense of belonging. While appropriate for men, women in these contexts were understood as disreputable o These new jobs in factories paid wages, but there were relatively few consumer goods to spend money on – alcohol became one such product o The industrial workday – with set hours and a clear division between work and home (which had not existed previously). – meant that drinking had to be crammed into a shorter period of time (“leisure time”). This change meant that people tended to drink more in a shorter period of time.

The Arrival of New Spirits -

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New technological changes (such as distillation, which allowed for 10x more alcohol per drink) meant that alcohol was more potent and easier to mass produce o One significant development was the appearance of gin bars, which the appearance of gin bars, which allowed for much more alcohol to be consumed in a much shorter period of time The government came to see gin consumption as a problem, attempting to slow consumption by raising taxes and developing tighter regulations on its production. These efforts were only mildly successful.

Drinking and the Working Class -

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As these changes unfolded, a new drinking culture emerged o Drinking songs, contests, and games evolved, producing patterns of consumption that came to be inextricably linked to working class o These changes in drinking culture started to produce wider anxieties, with many concerned about the social impacts of this new style of drinking o At the same time, worries about drinking latched onto pre-existing concerns about the working classes, which seemed poised to threaten the upper-middle class hold on power As anxiety about working class drinking built, some attempted to understand why drunkenness had become such as issue, with some linking it to the awful social conditions of working-class life. o Engels “the worker comes home from his job tired and listless; he finds a residence that is without all comfort, dank, inhospitable and dirty; he urgently needs something to restore him…and make the prospect of the next day tolerable…”

Gin Craze -

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Social anxieties about new forms of drinking crystallized into what was known as the “Gin Craze” – moral panic about the impacts of alcohol Gin was vilified by religious organizations, government campaigners, and social reformers, all of whom saw social problems (like violence, family breakdown, prostitution, and poverty) as being intrinsically linked to alcohol consumption o While new patterns of consumption undoubtedly helped to produce social problems, alcohol also became a lightening rob, providing a ready-made explanation for social ills whose roots could be found in other social changes (ex. Poverty) associated with industrialization and urbanization o This phenomenon has repeated with other drugs The (upper-middle class) temperance movement targeted working-class drinkers. Backed by industrialists, who feared that alcohol was harming the productivity of their workers. Temperance began to build a case against alcohol’s legal availability

A Double Standard? -

Both temperance reformers and the government were far more concerned with drinking among the working classes in comparison to that of the upper classes This period witnessed a division of drinking establishments along class lines, with the pub becoming the centre of life for the working class, while the upper classes drank in private club houses (away from public eye) o Because emergent trade unions (associated with the working class) met at pubs, and pubs (known initially as public houses) were much more visible than private clubs, a double standard emerged; working class drinking started to be constructed as a threat to public order, while the drinking of upper-class individuals was positioned as respectable.

Prohibition in Canada and the USA -

The temperance movement – which we explored in earlier lectures – built in strength throughout the 19th century. It continues to push for a ban on alcohol During World War I, anti-German sentiment permeated Canada and the US, and taking a stand against beer companies (many of which were German) became more acceptable. This period saw the declaration of prohibition – a ban on the sale of alcohol. Although many people supported this move, others resisted

B/c alcohol was now illegal, drinkers were deviant by definition (like narcotics users today). o Alcohol could still be prescribed – cancer, diabetes, old age was all ‘conditions’ that could warrant a prescription o Ultimately, consumption declined only 30% o There were significant societal impacts of prohibition, like a rise in organized crime and unlicensed drinking establishments As Great Depression hit in late 1920s, the blame for social ills switched from alcohol to poverty, ultimately allowing for the end of prohibition in the USA in 1933 (in Canada prohibition was provincial, with PEI the last province to end it in 1948) Many argue that prohibitions failure is proof that consent of the population is required for a ban on any substance to actually work. o

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Alcoholism as Disease -

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As we explored in earlier lecture, the late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a shift towards greater understanding of alcoholism as disease This too also unfolded along class lines, with those diagnosed typically belonging to groups believed to suffer from poor willpower in the first place (ex. Working class ppl, racialized groups). While there was a growing tendency to think about alcoholism as a disease, the moral aspect didn’t disappear. For example, clinicians who saw alcoholism as a disease nonetheless argued that the character of the drinker had to change for treatment to succeed As discussed, Alcoholics Anonymous emerged in the first half of the 20th century, addressing both the moral and disease perspectives. Despite its successes and impressive growth, AA has not been without criticism: o Some have argued that the disease perspective adopted by AA (susceptibility) might foster feelings of powerlessness, since the person comes to understand themselves as a permanent addict o Others have suggested that AA might to constraint the liberty of its members, since there is substantial social pressure to participate in certain activities (going to meetings) and not others (ex. Going to bars). o A feminist critique has emerged, which describes AA as patriarchal. This critique suggests that turning oneself over to a ‘higher power’ is more problematic for those (ex. Women) socialized more generally into obsequiousness o Others believe that AA’s success in spreading the disease concept has shifted focus away from structural issues that might cause alcoholism

Modern Alcohol Control -

Although prohibition is long gone in Canada, alcohol is still subject to controls. How? o Ex. Age limits, sites of sale, time of sale, advertising limits, sites of consumption etc. Across the world, quite distinct regimes of alcohol control exist, with some countries enforcing outright bans and others taking a far more permissive approach One major debate relates to the ideal minimum age of purchase o Those for higher age minimum suggest that a higher minimum legal drinking age (ex. 21+) lowers injury and death rates among youth, including car accidents o Those pushing for a lower age minimum (ex. 16+) point out that raising age limits does not significantly deter use. Moreover, it does nothing to decrease problem drinking  They argue that greater access to alcohol at a younger age might demystify drink (and change people’s expectations.)

And Yet… -

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Despite efforts and laws to limit alcohol consumption, drinking remains widespread. It is now an activity that cuts across age, gender, class, and race, being the most consumed drug after caffeine. How can we explain the growing reach of alcohol? o To further expand alcohol’s market beyond adult men, producers have introduced new drinks designed to appeal to women and youth (ex. Girly drinks, alcohol mixed with energy drinks o Drinking establishments have evolved to include people beyond working class men, ex. Wine bars, gastropubs, etc o In fact, drinking has perhaps never more popular. Consider the inclusion of microbreweries and micro distilleries as significant tourist sites As alcohol’s market has grown, so too have the social harms associated with its use (ex. Traffic accidents, crime, health problems, etc) o Yet despite widespread evidence of its social harms, the susceptibility model – which focuses on the drinker rather than the drink – contains to hold sway o Many suggest that the drinks industry has been as the heart of efforts to position alcohol as problematic for a select few, rather than the population as a whole. Equally, it has sought to frame other drugs as dangerous for the population as a whole Despite its widespread acceptance and special status, not all drinking is seen equally. o Moral notions still guide how/when/where drinking is appropriate (ex. Binge drinking vs. sipping wine, day-drinking vs. at the ‘proper time’)

Conclusions -

Alcohol’s special status and widespread social acceptance has led some to describe is as a ‘nondrug drug’ The relationship between a drug’s effects and its legal/medical statuses are not straightforward Cultural acceptance, not chemical properties, dictate substances’ place ad use in society Alcohol is subject to a legal and social regime that stresses “orderly” drinking. We may drink, but we’re encouraged to drink in the “right way” Alcohol has resisted holistic demonization, instead viewed as a problem only in particular contexts – but one that can be used to justify policing certain populations.

Lecture 5: Caffeine Coffee Origins -

Originally grown in Ethiopia, the first accounts of coffee’s psychoactive properties come from Arab would in 12th c. o Islamic would eagerly adopt coffee. Why?  Alternative to alcohol in terms of its social and ceremonial role  Facilitated the fasting associated with Ramadan  Use by Sufis (Islamic mystics) to achieve the divine o The Muslim world gave to the café, where coffee could be consumed (communally, since individual preparation was laborious). o Hattox: coffee’s success Islamic world not a given:  Some saw cafés as a threat to the mosque’s central role in social life  In Ottoman empire, sultan Murat IV attempted to ban coffee due to café’s status as space for political and secular activities. It proved too popular

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Despite initial prejudice against what was described as the “Muslim Liquor,” coffee eventually spread to Europe, ultimately refashioning European society. Well before the 20th century, some key aspects of caffeine culture were already in place: o Close ties to globalization, albeit with division between where coffee is produced and where it is consumed o From the beginning, coffee consumption was understood as an inherently social activity.

The Coffeehouse -

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Coffee arrived in Europe during the Enlightenment, a period of accelerated intellectual discussion, artistry, science, and questioning of social and political authority. Bevcause caffeine stimulates the mind and body, it was the ‘perfect drug’ for Enlightenment’s emphasis on intellectual exploration and debate Habermas: a new institution – the coffeehouse – gave birth to the ‘public sphere’ and a sense that there was such a thing as ‘the public’ that was distinct from the monarch o A person could speak openly, contravene censorship, and criticize the government (usually embodied by monarchs). o Places of ‘news’ – key to the idea of the public – as people gathered there for discussion of the day’s events. They were also the sites of the first newspapers o Recognizing threat that coffeehouses posed to their authority, some leaders tried to ban coffee, but again it proved too popular o Schnapp: coffee had to be produced publicly for first few hundred years of its existence. This has made coffee closely associated with public discourse Coffee helped construct the notion of the public, but it was also essential in ‘birth of individual’. How so? o In European society, ppl were largely defined y their ‘rank’. The coffeehouses offered ppl a space where they could shed communal identities and responsibilities. As places of ‘rationality’ and ‘intellectual discussion,’ women were excluded from coffeehouses culture

Tea -

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Other dominant form of delivering caffeine, originating in China. Despite chemically being a stimulant, it was originally associated with calm and serenity As global trade expanded Initially too expensive and dangerous for poor b/c they were judged to lack critical faculties to deal with excitement of caffeine, tea rapidly expanded though. Why? o Ideal for emerging working class; simpler to produce than coffee and could be ‘extended’ by simply adding more water o British empire provided steady supply from colonial possessions o Coffee acquired a bad reputation among British women, who blamed it their husband’s absence and impotence  Frustration w/ coffee from being excluded from bourgeoning coffeehouse culture The preferred method of caffeine delivery began to differ along cultural lines: in US, tea was rejected as sign of Britishness, with coffee taking its place

Spread of Caffeine -

Arrival of caffeine in early modern world sparked interest in whole world o Caffeinated drinks were often safer than water and milk b/c boiled o For new urban poor, growing in number b/c industrial revolution, and enclosure acts, caffeine warmed body and muted hunger. (Made poverty better)

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o Caffeine and coffeehouses facilitated good social order when it replaced alcohol o Temperance movement promoted caffeine as alternative to alcohol Schmitt: thus, caffeine consumption came to represent security and safety (specially in comparison to alcohol) it was intoxicating, but without risk and providing pleasure without danger.

Emergence of Modern Caffeine Culture in NA -

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In NA, the coffeehouse wasn’t popularized until after WWII. Instead, coffee and tea were primarily an individual’s drink, prepared and consumed at home o Coffee received big boost in reputation during WWII, as the ‘cup of joe’ was cited as vital to soldiers fighting ability In 1960s the mass production of carbonated beverages challenged the placed of traditional caffeine drinks In 1990s, the arrival of modern ‘coffee culture’ via Starbucks reinvigorated consumption of both tea and coffee By 2000, new forms of hyper-caffeination (energy drinks) were growing in popularity Rather than one of the other, all of these forms of caffeine concurrently thrive, and North America is perhaps the most caffeinated space on earth<...