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Habitus of home and traditional drinking: a qualitative analysis of reported middle‐class alcohol use
Author(s) -
BrierleyJones Lyn,
Ling Jonathan,
McCabe Karen E,
Wilson Graeme B,
Crosland Ann,
Kaner Eileen FS,
Haighton Catherine A
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
sociology of health and illness
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1467-9566
pISSN - 0141-9889
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9566.12145
Subject(s) - habitus , middle class , focus group , cultural capital , qualitative research , consumption (sociology) , social psychology , alcohol consumption , sociology , social capital , social class , psychology , alcohol , political science , social science , anthropology , law , biochemistry , chemistry
There is evidence that alcohol consumption among those in middle‐class occupations consistently exceeds safe levels, yet there has been little research into why this occurs. This article explores the meanings associated with alcohol use among professional, managerial and clerical workers. Qualitative data were collected from five focus groups of male and female employees aged 21–55 ( N =49: 32 male, 17 female). Each focus group was conducted on the premises of a medium‐scale or large‐scale employer, four public sector and one private sector, in the north‐east of England. Using Bourdieu's concepts of ‘habitus’, ‘capitals’ and ‘fields’ we found that, among these middle‐class occupational groups, alcohol use was associated with two habitus: a ‘home drinking’ habitus and a ‘traditional drinking’ habitus. Those of the home drinking habitus particularly used wine as a source of cultural capital and a means of distinction, whereas those in the traditional habitus consumed lager, beer and spirits to have fun in social settings. A small minority appeared to belong to a third, omnivorous, habitus where a wide range of alcoholic drinks were consumed in a variety of contexts. Existing public health initiatives to reduce alcohol consumption may require modification to accommodate a range of drinking cultures.