Drinking to the “edge”: gender differences in context-specific risks

Abstract

Purpose The risk associated with heavy episodic drinking in young people has caused concern among public health professionals. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the gender differences in the perception of risk in alcohol consumption behaviour for better targeting of messages. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative descriptive study examines the narratives of 28 young people’s experience of a “night out” framed as the Alcohol Consumption Journey to examine the ways young men and women experience context-specific risks for alcohol use. Findings The young people perceived participation in the Alcohol Consumption Journey involved risk to their personal safety. Both young men and young women described their alcohol consumption as controlled and perceived the risks as external inevitabilities linked to the public drinking establishments. However, they displayed noticeable gender-based differences in the perception and management of risk in diverse contexts of the Alcohol Consumption Journey. Young women drink in close friendship groups and have a collective view of risk and constructed group strategies to minimise it. Comparatively, the young men’s drinking group is more changeable and adopted a more individualistic approach to managing risk. Both groups exhibited prosocial tendencies to protect themselves and their friends when socialising together. Originality/value The concept of “edgework” is effective in providing an explanatory framework for understanding young people’s ritualised Alcohol Consumption Journey and to illustrate the context-specific risks associated with alcohol use.

Community level approach to youth alcohol related risk

“…In general, the community groups and venue managers perceived risk with high incidents of violence with physical and sexual threats to young people. This is consistent with the findings of previous studies (Waitt et al, 2011;Armstrong et al, 2014;Dresler and Anderson, 2018a). Regarding perceived risk, one of the main issues that arose was that venues (pubs, bars, nightclubs and restaurants) that catered to younger people were largely focussed on alcohol consumption.…”

“…It would be valuable to investigate broader social and structural contexts of the community level to provide insights on the potential influences of higher levels on the risk associated with excessive drinking in young people. Also, the findings of this study will add to the body of knowledge from the perspectives of lower levels of the social ecological model (Fry, 2011;Armstrong et al, 2014;Dresler and Anderson, 2017;Dresler and Anderson, 2018a). Especially, research on the lower levels is considered important as they highlight the critical disconnection between individuals and the situational factors that influence risky drinking practices in specific contexts.…”

“…The closing hours varied between different drinking establishments with some remaining open longer than others. Intoxicated young people wandering around the NTE in the early morning was considered to be a risky behaviour (Waitt et al, 2011;Armstrong et al, 2014;Dresler and Anderson, 2018a). Changes in the composite relationships can create conditions that are more favourable for one group of individuals and less favourable for other groups.…”

Respecting alcohol, respecting the water: Young adult perspectives on how to reduce alcohol‐influenced drownings in Australia

“…50 In contrast, research demonstrated that young New Zealand male participants (aged 18-24 years) adopted more individualistic strategies for managing alcohol-related risks than female participants of the same age, and they lacked awareness that safety can be associated with consuming alcohol in trusted groups. 51 Furthermore, both male and female participants in this New Zealand study showed reluctance towards helping an unknown intoxicated man in a risky situation-demonstrating the vulnerability of intoxicated men. 51 Among the safety strategies identified in the current study, men were more likely to discuss limiting the amount of alcohol they consumed than using a sober supervisor, with some referencing knowledge of their alcohol limits as guidance for this "Just keeping to your limit, I guess.…”

Not without my mobile phone: alcohol binge drinking, gender violence and technology in the Spanish culture of intoxication

“…Moreover, social standards impose different meanings of alcohol consumption for men and women, creating different patterns of drinking and risks while they are socialising ( de Visser, & McDonnell, 2012;Lindsay, 2006;Lyons & Willott, 2008). For example, although in male culture the excessive consumption of alcohol is accepted, women are expected to uphold a certain degree of control and respectability (Dresler & Anderson, 2018).…”