Adopting and sustaining responsible drinking: reconciling selves amidst conflicting messages

Gallage, H.P. Samanthika; Heath, Teresa; Tynan, Caroline

doi:10.1080/0267257x.2020.1857819

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…This serves to reduce the likelihood of sensory triggers. Despite this, many women preferred to consume no-and low-alcohol drinks from glasses that are traditionally used for alcohol in order to simulate feelings of, and associations with, sophistication, maturity, glamour and femininity that are typically ascribed to women's drinking practices [32][33][34] and reinforced by cultural references (such as Sex and the City [35,36]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘It's kind of like weaning. I had to wean myself off of wine’: Navigating no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as potential harm reduction tools and relapse triggers by women in recovery in the UK

Davey

2023

Drug and Alcohol Review

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IntroductionConcerns have been raised that consumption of no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks by those who are in recovery could lead to a relapse to past drinking behaviours. However, little is known regarding how individuals use these products to substitute alcohol and support their sobriety.MethodsThis article draws on an ethnographic study of women's experiences of recovery within online sobriety communities in which semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 25 UK‐based women. The dataset was analysed and coded from a pragmatist feminist standpoint using a grounded theoretical approach to specifically address the research question: ‘How do women in recovery navigate the protective and risk factors associated with no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks through practices of consumption?’ResultsWomen in recovery navigate no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as potential harm‐reduction tools and relapse triggers by engaging in nuanced practices of substitution. Contrasting examples include direct substitution and temporary avoidance in early recovery.Discussion and ConclusionsSubstitution practices are informed by the temporality of participants' recovery journeys, the social situation, and the products. Participants selectively replicate and resist their former drinking practices to balance their perceived harm‐reduction benefits and relapse triggers of no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks. Important considerations are raised for those in recovery who may want to use no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as a harm reduction tool, and for recovery modalities that promote them. It concludes with calls for more clarity regarding the definition and labelling of no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks, and for a greater understanding of their use across different recovery cultures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘It's kind of like weaning. I had to wean myself off of wine’: Navigating no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as potential harm reduction tools and relapse triggers by women in recovery in the UK

Davey

2023

Drug and Alcohol Review

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“…Responsible drinking messages present images of ‘responsible drinkers’ as cool, fun and sexy, particularly in advertisements. This challenges people to engage in complex identity negotiations, even when the source of the message is mistrusted (Gallage et al, 2020). To maintain a morally acceptable identity in the face of conflicting information, people often make concerted efforts to present themselves as good citizens (Gough et al, 2020) and as our participants appeared to do, to embrace the notion of oneself as a responsible, educated drinker.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Calling time on responsible drinking: A qualitative study of perceptions of information on alcohol product labels

Davies

Cooke

Visser

et al. 2022

British J Health Psychol

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This study aimed to explore (a) how people interpret responsible drinking messages on alcohol product labels, and (b) the acceptability of including health information on labels. Design: Qualitative interviews. Methods: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 people aged 21-63; 18 were classified risky drinkers using AUDIT-C. They were shown three sets of alcohol product labels: one including three responsible drinking messages (drink responsibly), one with three positively worded health messages (drinking less reduces risks) and one with three negatively worded health messages (drinking more increases risks). Health messages included information about cancer, liver and heart disease. Results: Thematic analysis identified three themes: ambiguity about alcohol labelling; identifying oneself as responsible; and acceptability of enhanced product labelling. Participants were critical of responsible drinking messages and wary of conflicting health information in the media. They positioned themselves as responsible, knowledgeable drinkers and distanced themselves from problem drinkers. They did not appear to support the inclusion of health information on labels; however, novel information was considered more impactful. Conclusions: Responsible drinking messages were seen by our sample as an alcohol industry ploy. Although health messages about cancer were seen as potentially impactful, the ability of consumers to position themselves as unproblematic drinkers means that they may not see the information

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“…In isolation, health-related information may be largely ineffective at facilitating sustainable changes in alcohol-related behaviour for several reasons (Hollands et al, 2016;Larimer & Cronce, 2015;Tannenbaum et al, 2015;Wakefield et al, 2010). Notably, qualitative accounts consistently point to how various AUD groups dismiss information such as recommended drinking guidelines because they view their drinking levels as 'normal', 'know their own limits', and are not actual 'problem' drinkers (Burgess et al, 2019;Davies et al, 2022;Gallage et al, 2020;Garnett et al, 2015;Khadjesari et al, 2018;Larsen et al, 2022;Lovatt et al, 2015;Lyons et al, 2014;O'Donnell et al, 2020;Orford et al, 2002). These accounts suggest how lower severity AUD groups actively resist the personal relevance of alcohol-related risk information when asked to reflect on the potential risks associated with their alcohol consumption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Look away now! Defensive processing and unrealistic optimism by level of alcohol consumption

Morris,

Tattan-Birch,

Albery

et al. 2024

Psychology & Health

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Health risk information alone is insufficient as a means of reducing alcohol use, particularly when it evokes negative emotional states amongst those for whom it is most personally relevant. Appraisal biases, or 'defensive processing', may be employed to mitigate the psychological discomfort posed by such information. Few studies have evaluated the role of defensive processing in people with different levels of alcohol consumption. Online participants (n=597) completed measures of defensive processing of a health risk infographic, perceived susceptibility and severity of alcohol use, efficacy for resisting alcohol use, unrealistic optimism, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test -Consumption (AUDIT-C) and demographics. Results showed that AUDIT-C scores were positively and linearly associated with all defensive processing measures (Pearson's correlation r from .16 to .36) and unrealistic optimism (r = .50). AUDIT-C scores were also negatively associated with efficacy for resisting alcohol use (r = -.48). As such, people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) engaged in much more defensive processing of alcohol-related messages, offering an explanation for why such messages are limited at eliciting behaviour change. High levels of unrealistic optimism in people with alcohol use disorder may reflect low problem recognition in order to maintain a problem-free drinking identity.

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Adopting and sustaining responsible drinking: reconciling selves amidst conflicting messages

Cited by 6 publications

References 85 publications

‘It's kind of like weaning. I had to wean myself off of wine’: Navigating no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as potential harm reduction tools and relapse triggers by women in recovery in the UK

‘It's kind of like weaning. I had to wean myself off of wine’: Navigating no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as potential harm reduction tools and relapse triggers by women in recovery in the UK

Calling time on responsible drinking: A qualitative study of perceptions of information on alcohol product labels

Look away now! Defensive processing and unrealistic optimism by level of alcohol consumption

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