Sociology of Alcohol Consumption – In Search of a Theory
Alcohol consumption takes place in society and because of society. The “social” aspect of this phenomenon gives a meaning that manifests itself in the framework of interaction. This paper discusses basic problems of previous sociological approaches to alcohol consumption: (1) focus on a problem-orie...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Hrvatsko sociološko društvo
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Revija za Sociologiju |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/412135 |
| _version_ | 1797985907523977216 |
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| author | Erik Brezovec |
| author_facet | Erik Brezovec |
| author_sort | Erik Brezovec |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Alcohol consumption takes place in society and because of society. The “social” aspect of
this phenomenon gives a meaning that manifests itself in the framework of interaction.
This paper discusses basic problems of previous sociological approaches to alcohol
consumption: (1) focus on a problem-oriented approach – drinking and alcoholism, (2)
abstract empiricism of alcohol consumption, and (3) unclear theoretical background for a
sociological approach to alcohol consumption. Focusing exclusively on alcoholism or
excessive drinking neglects a number of social dimensions inherent in alcohol consumption.
Therefore, when considering this phenomenon in sociological terms, clear
theoretical-methodological starting points should be established in order to understand
the social consumption of alcohol. The main objective of this paper was to provide a basic
paradigmatic and epistemological framework for the development of a sociology of alcohol
consumption. The paper starts from the assumption that two theoretical-methodological
principles should be considered: methodological individualism and methodological
situationism. Each of these approaches has certain advantages and disadvantages, but in
further conceptualising the paradigmatic foundations of the sociology of alcohol
consumption, the paper proposed a two-level approach, that is, a synthesis of
methodological situationism and methodological individualism. However, this synthesis does
not constitute a theory of the sociology of alcohol consumption, but a framework for a
sociological approach to the phenomenon, as well as the possibility of overcoming the
problems presented in the sociological analysis of this topic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:25:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18249376dd2848929dfc252aea360d42 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0350-154X 1846-7954 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:25:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Hrvatsko sociološko društvo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revija za Sociologiju |
| spelling | doaj.art-18249376dd2848929dfc252aea360d422022-12-22T04:37:06ZengHrvatsko sociološko društvoRevija za Sociologiju0350-154X1846-79542022-01-01522213237Sociology of Alcohol Consumption – In Search of a TheoryErik Brezovec0Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka, CroatiaAlcohol consumption takes place in society and because of society. The “social” aspect of this phenomenon gives a meaning that manifests itself in the framework of interaction. This paper discusses basic problems of previous sociological approaches to alcohol consumption: (1) focus on a problem-oriented approach – drinking and alcoholism, (2) abstract empiricism of alcohol consumption, and (3) unclear theoretical background for a sociological approach to alcohol consumption. Focusing exclusively on alcoholism or excessive drinking neglects a number of social dimensions inherent in alcohol consumption. Therefore, when considering this phenomenon in sociological terms, clear theoretical-methodological starting points should be established in order to understand the social consumption of alcohol. The main objective of this paper was to provide a basic paradigmatic and epistemological framework for the development of a sociology of alcohol consumption. The paper starts from the assumption that two theoretical-methodological principles should be considered: methodological individualism and methodological situationism. Each of these approaches has certain advantages and disadvantages, but in further conceptualising the paradigmatic foundations of the sociology of alcohol consumption, the paper proposed a two-level approach, that is, a synthesis of methodological situationism and methodological individualism. However, this synthesis does not constitute a theory of the sociology of alcohol consumption, but a framework for a sociological approach to the phenomenon, as well as the possibility of overcoming the problems presented in the sociological analysis of this topic.https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/412135alcohol consumptionmethodological individualismmethodological situationismsociology of alcohol consumption |
| spellingShingle | Erik Brezovec Sociology of Alcohol Consumption – In Search of a Theory Revija za Sociologiju alcohol consumption methodological individualism methodological situationism sociology of alcohol consumption |
| title | Sociology of Alcohol Consumption – In Search of a Theory |
| title_full | Sociology of Alcohol Consumption – In Search of a Theory |
| title_fullStr | Sociology of Alcohol Consumption – In Search of a Theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sociology of Alcohol Consumption – In Search of a Theory |
| title_short | Sociology of Alcohol Consumption – In Search of a Theory |
| title_sort | sociology of alcohol consumption in search of a theory |
| topic | alcohol consumption methodological individualism methodological situationism sociology of alcohol consumption |
| url | https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/412135 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT erikbrezovec sociologyofalcoholconsumptioninsearchofatheory |