International handbook on alcohol and culture

The first authoritative guide to how the world drinks, this reference details alcohol use in different countries and cultures. Variation is striking, with alcohol sometimes a food, a sacrament, a symbol, a tool, a tranquilizer, a medicine, a love potion, or an object of scorn--often with very different meanings and uses in a single country. This volume reveals multicultural and ethnic beliefs, practices, and attitudes about drinking around the world.

An extensive introduction discusses the close link between alcohol and culture and provides a foundation for the rest of the book. Each of the following chapters is written by an expert contributor and discusses alcohol and culture in a particular country. Chapters discuss historical trends, drinking among ethnic and religious minorities, national policies, and social outcomes. Countries range from industrial nations known for their alcohol research, to developing nations and to places famous for drinking. A concluding chapter highlights important similarities and differences.

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Articles in this Handbook review information about alcohol use in 27 different countries. While not identical in outline, information on the countries treated includes historical facts, patterns of use among different populations, how drinking patterns vary socially and demographically, and some coverage of legal and policy issues. As an anthropologist, the editor has successfully compiled a factually interesting account of the many different values and attitudes surrounding the use of this drug. Essays are written by knowledgeable researchers in the field of alcohol studies; contributors appear to have a good grasp of the countries they represent. The strength of this volume lies in its coherent presentation of factual material, despite variation in the writing styles of so many contributors, for some of whom English is a second language. This book is especially valuable for researchers interested in sampling cultures within each continent and for those interested in acquiring cross-cultural comparative insight in the use of this drug. Recommended for upper-division undergraduates and above. P. J. Venturelli; Valparaiso University

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