Rethinking Alcoholism: The Overlooked Social Side of Drinking
When most people think of someone struggling with alcoholism, they often imagine a lonely person drinking in isolation. However, a recent review published in Current Directions in Psychological Science suggests that this view ignores a key part of the issue — the social roots of problem drinking.
Psychology professor Catharine Fairbairn from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Dahyeon Kang from the University of Washington argue that alcohol misuse is often driven by social motives rather than solitary habits. “Evidence for the importance of social reasons behind drinking problems is everywhere,” the authors note. While drinking alone can indicate risk, research consistently shows that people drink more in group settings than they do by themselves.
This common image of the isolated drinker shapes how scientists study alcohol use disorder. According to the authors, research on solo drinkers outnumbers research on social drinkers by almost ten times, and most theories focus on drinking as an isolated act, ignoring how social environments influence behavior.
Fairbairn points out that many people mistakenly believe that drinking around others naturally keeps things in check. This idea also allows people to avoid feeling responsible when friends overdrink in social settings. The truth, however, is different. Young adults often begin drinking because of peer pressure, and heavy drinkers tend to surround themselves with others who drink heavily, reinforcing the behavior.
Studies show that the most harmful consequences of alcohol — such as violence, unsafe sex, binge drinking, and drunk driving — often occur in social contexts. Alcohol’s ability to reduce anxiety and lower social inhibitions can make it feel like a helpful social tool. But these effects can also increase the risk of misuse. In fact, people who enjoy drinking socially the most are also at greater risk of developing alcohol-related issues. Some individuals even use alcohol to cope with difficult personal relationships.
The researchers warn that the social integration of alcohol makes it unique as an addictive substance. As other previously illegal drugs like cannabis become more accepted, they may also present similar social and medical challenges.
This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
