In the UK, people don't meet for a coffee, they meet for a pint (or cocktail, whatever). Alcohol use is embedded in the social fabric - what might elsewhere be understood as mild alcoholism is easily accepted as normal - to the point that it's not unusual for people to turn up for work with a hangover (or take a sick day to nurse a bad one). I think there's resistance to the disease or genetic theory of alcoholism - people have 'drink problems', or just 'like having a good time', or are 'being sociable'. This applies to all classes + groups: binge-drinking students + city workers; football fans; families (children are often welcome in pubs)...
To be abstinent, as is demanded of many alcohol treatment programmes, is to be a pariah. On top of that I think mental illness in general is largely taboo...
What are treatment strategies that make sense in this context, then? How do you help someone with a 'drink problem' who's in sync with his culture?
Any thoughts are welcome...
: http://alcoholdrugstreatment.info/cultural-differences-in-alcohol-use-addiction-and-treatment-uk-pub-culture
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