Society and alcohol
To the Editor:
In the Feb. 8th article "Experts cite possible link between alcohol and violent crimes," Stephanie Ives, director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, was quoted, "alcohol lowers inhibitions and contributes to higher-risk behaviors, which could potentially contribute to assaults."
Although Ives has the best interest of the students, comments like these may be adding more harm than good to the situation.
Alcohol has many undeniable negative effects, but it is unclear whether drinking alcohol actually makes you less inhibited and leads to more deviant behavior. It may be the comments that associate alcohol with lack of inhibition that make people act uninhibited. Perhaps how people act when they're drunk is tied to the cultural expectations of how you're supposed to act. Culture makes us believe we are supposed to act uninhibited, more aggressive and more promiscuous. Therefore when we drink, we will act this way.
Sophomore Zack Bader says it best: "It is a self-fulfilling prophecy; alcohol is just a substance that gives you an excuse to act differently." When you're drinking you're allowed to behave in a way you can't always. It is a way to escape.
Does the person determine society or does society determine the person?
Seth Levine
SEAS Freshman
To the Editor:
In the Feb. 8th article "Experts cite possible link between alcohol and violent crimes," Stephanie Ives, director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, was quoted, "alcohol lowers inhibitions and contributes to higher-risk behaviors, which could potentially contribute to assaults."
Although Ives has the best interest of the students, comments like these may be adding more harm than good to the situation.
Alcohol has many undeniable negative effects, but it is unclear whether drinking alcohol actually makes you less inhibited and leads to more deviant behavior. It may be the comments that associate alcohol with lack of inhibition that make people act uninhibited. Perhaps how people act when they're drunk is tied to the cultural expectations of how you're supposed to act. Culture makes us believe we are supposed to act uninhibited, more aggressive and more promiscuous. Therefore when we drink, we will act this way.
Sophomore Zack Bader says it best: "It is a self-fulfilling prophecy; alcohol is just a substance that gives you an excuse to act differently." When you're drinking you're allowed to behave in a way you can't always. It is a way to escape.
Does the person determine society or does society determine the person?
Seth Levine
SEAS Freshman
