[The culture of the guaro]

The ways a given society envisions the 'relationship' with drinking stem out of historical and social processes which, in everyday life, set up the rules for drinking by means of behavioral patterns. In Costa Rica, 'guaro' (a sugar-cane alcohol) stands for 'any kind of drinking alcohol' and its so-called culture comprehends every belief and action that rule up the relationship with alcohol drinking. The present study constitutes a first approach aiming at analyzing this culture among different Costa Rican social groups such as Indian communities, peasantry, field hands, employees, and marginal urban classes as well. Two cultural patterns could be detected. One, where emphasis is put on social integration, another where escaping from reality is a must. Both evidence an active search towards drunkness on one hand, and the need for studying preventive means on the other hand.