Non-drinking and drinking cultures through similarities and differences of attitudes, rituals and patterns

Abstract

Research of alcohol use from sociological and cultural aspects are significant and always actual social subject. Economical, national and global burden conditioned by the consumption is exceptionally high. Particularly interesting has been considering the link between consumption and social changes and influences of religion. The aim of this paper is to present some societies different by nationality, religion and region where the level of consumption is either at its highest or lowest in the World. Also, the aim of this work was to show the link between consumption and religion, than between consumption and social attitudes to drinking and influences of social factors and changes. The World Health Organization and other scientific data sources were used - studies on use of alcohol from Russia, Check Republic, Serbia and several countries with Islam and Jewish religion. The differences in consumption levels have been changing and previous religious influences have been replaced by the cultural and social. Still, regardless of the changes, the use of alcohol has kept its important role in transmitting the class, ethnic, national, gender and local identities.

Keywords

• alcohol consumption
• religion
• culture
• social factors
• countries with high consumption level
• countries with low consumption level