After yesterday's post, I thought I'd post more interesting writing from Malcolm Gladwell. Today's longread is about how cultural norms around drinking influence the way that the effects of alcohol are understood in society. Gladwell discusses some of the traditional theories about how people are affected by alcohol and then analyzes how case studies of alcohol in different societies and cultures have influenced those theories.
"Drinking Games" by Malcolm Gladwell
Published in the New Yorker, February 15, 2010
http://www.gladwell.com/2010/2010_02_15_a_drinking.html
Eric
Interesting...as one who has gone through stages of both reckless and and responsible drinking the point is fairly clear though i'm not certain the importance? The way the italians drink puts them in a different state is is alcohol but not getting drunk. College kids like getting drunk because often it leads to doing things you don't normally do and having a phenomenal time. Can that be done responsibly? Sure but it's difficult. It's a cultural thing but the end results being sought after are completely different. I feel like what he is saying is instead of laws lets show college kids they don't have to racously party and that I don't know if i agree with. The craziness generated doesn't happen without alcohol. You can debate good or bad but either way it's true.
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