Drinking alcohol at home feels different from drinking in public places: a qualitative study of midlife Australians

Health Place. 2024 Feb 16;86:103179. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103179. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThis paper shows how drinking in one's own home affords different affective experiences to drinking in public settings such as bars, pubs and restaurants. A thematic analysis of interviews with 40 Australians aged 30-65 identified three main variations in alcohol-associated feelings, sensations and urges. Alcohol was used at home to decelerate, but in contrast, people were enlivened when drinking in public venues. Drinking in public generated a sense of vigilance and greater requirement to self-monitor than usually felt necessary at home. For some, drinking at home seemed more habitual; governed by urges rather than intentionality, than drinking outside it did. Policy and interventions that target drinking in the home should be prioritised, such as those focussed on off-premise pricing and availability.PMID:38367323 | DOI:10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103179
Source: Health and Place - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: research