“Coming out” as an alcoholic: how former problem drinkers negotiate disclosure of their nondrinking identity

Abstract

Although communication is critical for former problem drinkers to reject drinks, socialize with others, minimize stigma, and maintain their health and sobriety, recovering alcoholics' communication has not been examined beyond alcohol self-help groups. Using a Communication Privacy Management framework and in-depth, semistructured interviews, this study examined how former problem drinkers negotiate the disclosure of their nondrinking status. As participants perceived not drinking in the United States as deviant and socially risky, the investigation found participants primarily concealed their nondrinking status in order to fit in. Participants enacted specific communicative behaviors to regulate their privacy boundaries, only disclosing their struggles with alcohol when benefits outweighed costs (e.g., inspiring others, maintaining sobriety, or building relationships). This study offers practical disclosure strategies for former problem drinkers to protect their private information, manage social interactions, and stay sober.

‘I feel like I have to become part of that identity’: Negotiating femininities and friendships through alcohol consumption in Newcastle, UK

“…This further affirms the idea that drinking per se is not what matters, but drinking to a certain level in order to be 'tipsy' or a 'bit drunk'. It is unsurprising that non-drinkers are likely to adopt a number of strategies to avoid being labelled as deviant (Bartram et al 2017), including concealing non-drinking status (Romo et al 2016) and fictional 'story telling' about why they are not drinking (Herman-Kinney and Kinney 2013). Hayley one of the few participants who did consume alcohol but who did not frame it as a required 'tool' to negotiate a night outdescribed a decision to abstain as something that might be challenged or lead to probing questions or interrogations: I can go out and I don't need to have a drink, but sometimes if I'm out with a different group of friends, they will challenge that… 'What you not drinking for?…”

“…The consequences for non-drinkers can be very real and include exclusion, social isolation or even verbal abuse and physical harassment (Herman-Kinney and Kinney 2013; Romo et al 2016). Whilst previous research suggests non-drinking could actually earn respect and be linked to sociability, it could simultaneously be read as a rejection of one's friendship group and positioned as unsociable (Conroy and de Visser 2013).…”

Whether, when, and to whom?: An investigation of comfort with disclosing alcohol and other drug histories in a nationally representative sample of recovering persons

“…It is possible that individuals feel greater comfort disclosing their AOD problem resolution in closer or more intimate, trusted, relationships because recipients know them as full people with other identities and characteristics (e.g., mother, athlete), and not merely as people recovering from AOD problems. Indeed, results of qualitative research suggest that people in recovery may feel greater comfort disclosing in more intimate and trusting relationships (Romo, Dinsmore, & Watterson, 2016) such as to friends and family members (Earnshaw et al, in press). People who have resolved AOD problems may also disclose within the contexts of less intimate relationships.…”

Coming Out as a Nondrinker at Work

“…Employees are aware that revealing can make themselves susceptible to stigmatization, discrimination, and prejudice in the workplace (Clair et al, 2005; Ragins, 2008; Smith & Brunner, 2017). Similarly, an examination of the experiences of nondrinking professionals overall (Romo, Dinsmore, Connolly, & Davis, 2015) and former problem drinkers specifically (Romo, Dinsmore, & Connolly, 2016) uncovered that participants weighed the risks and rewards of revealing their nondrinking status to colleagues. Romo et al (2015) found that while nondrinking professionals did not readily volunteer that they never drank alcohol, those who abstained for health or moral reasons were more likely to reveal their nondrinking status than problem drinkers, who viewed disclosure (unless they held positions of power) as more professionally risky (Romo et al, 2016).…”

“…When participants were directly asked if they never drank or why they were drinking a nonalcoholic drink, all participants said they would admit to not drinking; however, many did not provide their real reason for abstaining (their trouble with alcohol—instead opting to give such personal explanations as health or joking about why they were not drinking). Only in a few cases in which participants wanted to help other problem drinkers quit drinking, wanted to maintain their own sobriety, or become closer to others through relationship building were participants open about their problem drinking (Romo et al, 2016).…”