From colonial times to the present day, alcohol has always been a part of American culture. What has changed is the availability of booze, brews, and cocktails. From pre-mixed drinks to beer vending machines to liquor delivery services, you can find “alcohol near me” with a click of a button– and have it delivered to you with the click of another.
Is this a win? For capitalism, maybe. But for society, not so much.
On a world stage, such widespread availability is why alcohol kills approximately 3 million people globally every year and is the leading cause of preventable death. Here in the States, the situation looks just as bleak.
It’s not likely just a coincidence that the amount of alcohol Americans consumed has been steadily increasing over the past 30 years as rates of alcohol use disorder and other alcohol-related health problems also reach all-time highs. Plus, nearly half of all alcohol-related deaths are caused by health issues directly attributed to excessive consumption (liver disease, heart disease, various types of cancer, etc.). The other half are caused by short-term ailments such as overdosing, suicide, or motor vehicle accidents.
There is one bright spot, however: underage drinking among America’s youth is on the decline. Still, America clearly has a messed up relationship with alcohol. Is having such easy access to alcohol the cause of this issue? We first examine the issue by looking at alcohol regulations in the country, how they’ve changed, where they currently stand, and whether there’s a correlation between Americans’ drinking behaviors.
A Brief History of Alcohol Regulation in U.S. History
In the early days of America, alcohol was viewed as an important part of daily life. It was consumed regularly by men, women, and even children. However, as concerns about the negative consequences of alcohol consumption began to grow, states began implementing a range of regulations to limit its consumption and sale.
One of the earliest examples of alcohol regulation in America was the passage of the Prohibition laws in the early 19th century. This law was a result of the temperance movement which was driven by the belief that alcohol consumption was a major contributor to social ills such as poverty, crime, and domestic violence.
This movement culminated in the passage of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1919, which banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol throughout the country. However, the Prohibition laws proved to be largely ineffective at reducing alcohol consumption and were eventually repealed in 1933 with the passage of the 21st Amendment.
Following the repeal of Prohibition, alcohol regulation was largely left to the states, which implemented a range of laws aimed at controlling the sale and consumption of alcohol. One of the most significant examples of state-level alcohol regulation was the implementation of the Three-Tier System, which was first introduced in the 1930s. This system, which is still in use today, requires the separation of alcohol manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, and is aimed at preventing monopolies and ensuring that alcohol is sold and distributed safely and responsibly.
Rising Alcohol Abuse Issues in America
In terms of overall alcohol consumption, the United States ranks 34th out of 59 alcohol-drinking countries. Fairly low compared to other first-world nations. Despite this Americans have significantly higher rates of alcohol use disorder than those countries whose populations drink much more.
The countries that ranked higher are considered ‘wet’ cultures; drinking plays a more casual role in society and a glass of wine during lunch is routine. Here in America, a ‘dry’ culture, our attitude towards alcohol is more compartmentalized: drinking is for after work, not the middle of the work day.
And similar to how one might deny themselves pizza while on a diet, only to devour one whole in the middle of the night, this clear separation of drinking being reserved for “fun” often results in people overdoing it. A CDC study found that binge drinking rates increased by 11% between 2011 and 2017.
This suggests that it’s not necessarily an issue of quantity but more so how we drink. It makes sense as we know that binge and heavy drinking behaviors increase the risk of alcoholism and other adverse effects, more so than the same amount of drinks spaced apart over the course of a week.
Where to Get Help for Alcohol Abuse
Are you, or perhaps someone you know, struggling to manage your alcohol consumption in the face of such widespread accessibility? Talk to someone today and find a local Alcoholics Anonymous group for free, commitment-free support from peers.
From colonial times to the present day, alcohol has always been a part of American culture. What has changed is the availability of booze, brews, and cocktails. From pre-mixed drinks to beer vending machines to liquor delivery services, you can find “alcohol near me” with a click of a button– and have it delivered to you with the click of another.
Is this a win? For capitalism, maybe. But for society, not so much.
On a world stage, such widespread availability is why alcohol kills approximately 3 million people globally every year and is the leading cause of preventable death. Here in the States, the situation looks just as bleak.
It’s not likely just coincidence that the amount of alcohol Americans consumed has been steadily increasing over the past 30 years as rates of alcohol use disorder and other alcohol-related health problems also reach all-time highs. Plus, nearly half of all alcohol-related deaths are caused by health issues directly attributed to excessive consumption (liver disease, heart disease, various types of cancer, etc.). The other half are caused by short-term ailments such as overdosing, suicide, or motor vehicle accidents.
There is one bright spot, however: underage drinking among America’s youth is on the decline. Still, America clearly has a messed up relationship with alcohol. Is having such easy access to alcohol the cause of this issue? We first examine the issue by looking at alcohol regulations in the country, how they’ve changed, where they currently stand, and whether there’s a correlation between American’s drinking behaviors.
A Brief History of Alcohol Regulation in U.S. History
In the early days of America, alcohol was viewed as an important part of daily life. It was consumed regularly by men, women, and even children. However, as concerns about the negative consequences of alcohol consumption began to grow, states began implementing a range of regulations to limit its consumption and sale.
One of the earliest examples of alcohol regulation in America was the passage of the Prohibition laws in the early 19th century. This law was a result of the temperance movement which was driven by the belief that alcohol consumption was a major contributor to social ills such as poverty, crime, and domestic violence.
This movement culminated in the passage of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1919, which banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol throughout the country. However, the Prohibition laws proved to be largely ineffective at reducing alcohol consumption and were eventually repealed in 1933 with the passage of the 21st Amendment.
Following the repeal of Prohibition, alcohol regulation was largely left to the states, which implemented a range of laws aimed at controlling the sale and consumption of alcohol. One of the most significant examples of state-level alcohol regulation was the implementation of the Three-Tier System, which was first introduced in the 1930s. This system, which is still in use today, requires the separation of alcohol manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, and is aimed at preventing monopolies and ensuring that alcohol is sold and distributed safely and responsibly.
Rising Alcohol Abuse Issues in America
In terms of overall alcohol consumption, the United States ranks 34th out of 59 alcohol-drinking countries. Fairly low compared to other first-world nations. Despite this Americans have significantly higher rates of alcohol use disorder than those countries whose populations drink much more.
The countries that ranked higher are considered ‘wet’ cultures; drinking plays a more casual role in society and a glass of wine during lunch is routine. Here in America, a ‘dry’ culture, our attitude towards alcohol is more compartmentalized: drinking is for after work, not the middle of the work day.
And similar to how one might deny themselves pizza while on a diet, only to devour one whole in the middle of the night, this clear separation of drinking being reserved for “fun” often results in people overdoing it. A CDC study found that binge drinking rates increased by 11% between 2011 and 2017.
This suggests that it’s not necessarily an issue of quantity but more so how we drink. It makes sense as we know that binge and heavy drinking behaviors increase the risk of alcoholism and other adverse effects, more so than the same amount of drinks spaced apart over the course of a week.
Where to Get Help for Alcohol Abuse
Are you, or perhaps someone you know, struggling to manage your alcohol consumption in the face of such widespread accessibility? Talk to someone today and find a local Alcoholics Anonymous group for free, commitment-free support from peers.
