Explaining Alcoholism: An Empirical Test and Reformulation

Abstract

An explanation of alcoholism based on the structure and quality of social norms is tested with data on several preliterate non-European societies. Little support is found for this hypothesis, but the analysis reveals that a variable-general consumption level-which is at most implied in the original formulation, has a high degree of explanatory and predictive value. The implications of this variable are discussed in terms of an additional body of literature that deals with the epidemiology of alcoholic beverage consumption. A synthesis of previous formulations is offered in the form of a new theory of alcoholism.