Paper Example on Analyzing Binge Drinking in Australia: A Sociological Perspective

Functionalism is a part of the sociology theory that perceives society as a system that is complex and, its parts usually work together in promoting society's stability and solidarity. It briefly looks at the functions of different aspects of the community and how they encourage societal stability. Functionalism is also a philosophy of the nature of mental states, and according to it, these mental states are identified by what they do and not what they are made of (Turner and Maryanski, 1979). Symbolic interactionism, on the other hand, is also a part of sociology theory that depends mostly on the symbolic meaning people develop and use in the course of the day to day activities and interactions. Through symbolic interactionism, it means that human interpretations are the ones that construct a society socially (Blumer, 1986).

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The main difference between the two is that functionalism is on a macro-level framework because it looks on the society as a whole while the symbolic is on a micro-level framework because it mainly depends on how humans interpret things. Therefore, functionalism and symbolic interactionism are two broad theories that analyze society and its structure (Pearson, 1995).

This essay will use binge drinking in Australia to explain the above two contexts; functionalism and symbolic interactionism. Binge drinking in Australia has both the entire society and also individuals as the promoters of the event. Therefore, the essay will capture how the entire society and individuals influence and motivate others to binge drink.

Binge drinking in Australia is a term that means drinking a lot of alcohol in one session, and it is associated with several effects that affect the health and well-being of people. Australia has guidelines that regulate that a person should not take more than four drinks in several hours. Statistics show that citizens of the country start participating in heavy drinking as early as the age of 14 years old. Binge drinking is increasing because the country perceives taking alcohol as part of just having a good time with friends and relatives. Binge drinking in Australia is a form of having fun so nobody will judge the other for having to drink that much heavier in one session. There are very many side effects that come up with binge drinking, while others are short-lived; there are also ones that ensure forever. On the harmful part of binge drinking is that it makes a lot of people to be less social and destroys people's social relationships. People who participate in it also may contract problems that lead to mental disorders and also make people do things that they would not do in their normal conditions. (Binge drinking, n.d.). Binge drinking in Australia is at both the macro and micro level framework of the society that is why this essay analyzes both these theories which explain more about the community.

Binge drinking and Functionalism

Heavy drinking of alcohol for men in the early nineteenth century was seen as a norm and also termed as beneficial. In the early 2000s, about 48% of male adults and 32% of female adults participated in alcohol intoxication disorder at least once per year in Australia. From then on, research shows that binge drinking has now increased largely, with females becoming more binge drinkers than males. Research also shows that females under the age of 19 participate more in binge drinking than male counterparts in each week. Australia is currently experiencing having a lot of binge drinkers who are under age and they start this at an early age because the society that they live in accepts them to participate in this event.

Previously, binge drinking was for the youths, but it is now changing to that every age group is participating in binge drinking up to the age of 55 years old. The reasons for binge drinking in Australia are very many, and the main reason that makes people drink heavily is because of toxic relationships. Research shows that people drink heavily to relieve stress, do silly things, peer pressure, fun, and socialize, and celebrate certain events. Australia also has a culture that perceives drinking as not a big deal. That is also a reason why many people in the country usually drink that much heavier. It is clear that how a community perceives a thing is how the people in that community do. Societies that have a culture of drinking has high rates when it comes to drinking heavily. Therefore in terms of functionalism, the communities’ views of something like alcohol matters a lot than what individuals view it (Binge drinking (alcohol intoxication disorder) | myVMC, n.d.).

The reason why binge drinking is increasing in Australia is that it is not considered as a ‘drug’ and is not perceived to be harmful; but, they use it as a recreational drug. Therefore Australian society accepts binge drinking, thus very many people participating in it. Australian community also accepts heavy drinking to youths, especially the females, and this has been the reason why many young girls participate in it. Finalizing the functionalism aspect, binge drinking explains how the whole society is the key when it comes to alcohol consumption. Many people in society participate in different tasks or behavior because the entire community sees it as a good thing and also the vice versa of the statement is true. Binge drinking in Australia has been promoted by the country accepting it and making it a good thing to participate in.

Binge drinking and Symbolic Interactionism

Binge drinking is a social problem, but how individuals feel after binge drinking is what drives the person to recur the process. Therefore if a person who experienced binge drinking sees it as a pleasurable thing, then it is most likely that they will influence those who are near them and also the person will most probably drink heavily again. Binge drinkers encourage each other by learning and motivating each other through interactions with others who do so. It is therefore clear that for a first-time drinker, they will be yearning to get the experience previously achieved by his or her encourager.

Through the symbolic interaction perspective, binge drinking is because of different events promoting the character and also the situations of Australian society. From the above discussion, binge drinking in Australia is glorified, and the community accepts it. The reason why many youths in their college years opt to binge drinking is because of the positive experience they see from their friends and neighbors who participate in it. It is also seen as a level of maturity if one starts participating in drinking heavily and a fun activity because society has made it relevant to drink. The reason for the increase in binge drinking in the country is that the event has remained to be hugely celebrated by society, and the members of the community accept it as a simple thing of interacting with one another. Mostly binge drinking takes place on the weekends when different celebrations are ongoing, and it is perceived as an event that will make people pass the time (Binge Drinking under Symbolic Interactionism Perspective, n.d.).

Therefore in terms of binge drinking explaining symbolic interactionism, this event means that the Australian society gets its shape from the human interpretation of how different people live. Many people in the community start binge drinking by getting teachings from groups of binge drinkers and learn more about it from them. So, how individuals perceive a certain event or behaviour can be of influence on others. If one sees it as a good thing to do, then it is most likely possible that they will bring to board their friends and relatives to it, and this is what has happened in Australia where people get encouragement from others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, binge drinking is something normal according to Australians, and many participate in it due to how society sees it or from the encouragement of individuals. Binge drinking in Australia has brought very many effects to the community, many of them been the negative effects that people participating in their experience. There are traces of mental disorders, early pregnancies, and unwanted pregnancies, and many other effects associated with those who binge drink.

In functionalism, society's perception of binge drinking has been the one promoting and encouraging many of the community members to engage in the event. There has been a promotion when people see drinking as not a big deal to do on different occasions. Thus binge drinking, according to the Australian community is not a bad thing, and people can do it anytime they want or feel like doing it.

In symbolic interactionism, many people get teachings and motivation from binge drinkers who have had pleasurable moments after drinking heavily. Individual experiences and behaviors of binge drinkers are the ones that attract new people to start heavy drinking because they see other people having fun in it. Some of the binge drinkers term the event as pleasurable and that has been the reason why others participate and try to enter into it so that they can feel what the others feel when they drink heavily.

References List

Blumer, H., 1986. Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. Univ of California Press.

Healthdirect.gov.au. n.d. Binge Drinking. [online] Available at: <https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/binge-drinking> [Accessed 23 July 2020].

Henslin, J.M., Possamai, A.M., Possamai-Inesedy, A.L., Marjoribanks, T., and Elder, K., 2015. Sociology: A down to earth approach. Pearson Higher Education AU.myVMC. n.d. Binge Drinking (Alcohol Intoxication Disorder) | Myvmc. [online] Available at: <https://www.myvmc.com/lifestyles/binge-drinking-alcohol-intoxication-disorder/> [Accessed 23 July 2020].

Pearson, D.E., 1995. Community and sociology. Society, 32(5), pp.44-50.The Uni Tutor. n.d. Binge Drinking Under Symbolic Interactionism Perspective. [online] Available at: <https://www.theunitutor.com/binge-drinking-symbolic-interactionism-perspective/> [Accessed 23 July 2020].

Turner, J.H. and Maryanski, A., 1979. Functionalism. Menlo Park, CA: Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company.