Is Heavy Drinking Be Part of Culture? (Blog Assignment #3)

9/19/12

              Can serious drinking be part of one's cultural heritage?

I do not agree with this question because I feel like it is a stereotype, such as saying all Irish drink, a common stereotype. I do, however, feel that serious drinking can stem from how one was raised. For example, If a child grew up with parents who were heavy drinkers, they grow up with the thought that it is normal to consume that amount of alcohol. As seen in "Drinking with Daddy" by Susan Cheever, drinking was just a norm for Susan and her family. Almost every night adults would come to their suburban home and have martinis. Because she was exposed to this at such a young age, Susan grew up thinking that consuming a large amount of alcohol on weekdays was common and normal. It has nothing to do with culture or ethnicity, just how one was raised. Alcoholism is also a disease, which can be genetic. This stems from genes, not ethnicity. It is all based on one's personal family life and health history. Regardless of where serious drinking comes from, there is help and one should not feel alone if they find themselves in such a situation.