Exploring othering and perceived harmful drinking contexts among risky drinkers: An arts-based focus group study

Area of Science:

• Social Science
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Understanding perceptions of harmful drinking is crucial for public health interventions.
• Previous research has not fully explored how individuals differentiate their own drinking from 'harmful' drinking.
• The role of drinking contexts in shaping these perceptions requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if individuals perceive others as 'harmful' drinkers.
• To examine how drinking contexts and their features are associated with harmful drinking.
• To explore the concept of 'othering' in relation to alcohol consumption.

Main Methods:

• Four focus groups were conducted with 20 risky drinkers (AUDIT-C score ≥ 5).
• Arts-based methods, including drawing and discussion, were used to explore perceptions of harmful drinking contexts.
• Reflexive thematic analysis and content analysis of drawings informed the findings.

Main Results:

• Participants differentiated their own drinking as controlled compared to others.
• Harmful drinking was associated with specific contexts (mental, physical, social, societal harms).
• Key features indicating harm included drinking alone, at home, high amounts, specific drink types, and lack of responsibilities.

Conclusions:

• Drinking contexts contribute to 'othering' narratives among risky drinkers.
• These findings have significant implications for designing targeted alcohol harm reduction campaigns.
• Interventions should consider how individuals construct social comparisons around drinking behaviors.