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Why People Drink in Social Situations

Updated on January 19, 2018
Girl drinking
Girl drinking

Eat drink and be merry

Eat, drink, and be merry is a social mantra that has been around for centuries. Like dining out or entertaining friends and family, drinking at social functions is the accepted norm in many societies. But why do we do it? This article will explore some of the reasons people drink in social situations. A social drink can be any drink, but for the purpose of this article, the drink will refer to an alcoholic beverage, since that is probably the most popular form of social drinking.

Communicating with others

People drink in social situations as a means of communicating with others. If you walk into a party or social gathering and you do not have a drink in your hand, you will probably be offered one several times during the occasion. If you are drinking, it communicates to others that you are part of the group, that you are enjoying the company and that you are there to meet and mingle, and all guests are expected to join the fun.

Loosen up

Social drinking can make it easy for some people to mingle and open up to others. One might enter a party totally aloof and after two drinks, they feel comfortable (or loose) enough to interact with other party goers. Of course, too much drinking can also lead to one feeling too comfortable to the point that all discretion may be lost.

Having a good time

You drink at a social function because it is simply your idea of having a good time. Many people associate a good time with simply having a few drinks. It is not unusual to see people at a party where there is dancing and other entertainment, and all they want to do is drink. There is little or no urge to get on the dance floor or at the game table when there is a drink in hand, which makes it a very boring night for accompanying friends and partners whose ideas of a good time may be different.

Drowning your sorrows

Drinking in a social situation allows people to drown their sorrows while still maintaining contact with others. Instead of drinking to be social or for the fun of it, one may simply be drinking to relieve stress and anxiety or to forget their problems. When one is battling depression or consumed with worry, a drink may serve to create a sense of relaxation and a feeling that all their worries are over, for the moment, at least.

Conclusion

There are several reasons why people drink at social functions. Perhaps the main reason is that it is a social norm that is linked to socialization and having a good time. Social drinking has been a form of celebrations for thousands of years, and today this practice shows no sign of waning.

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© 2018 Joan King

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