Social Drinking, Not Solitary Drinking, is Key to Understanding Alcohol Addiction
2025-05-09
A new study challenges the conventional wisdom on alcohol addiction. While solitary drinking has long been considered the primary marker of alcohol use disorder, research published in Current Directions in Psychological Science reveals that social drinking is the key factor leading to serious alcohol problems. The study shows individuals consistently consume more alcohol in social settings than alone, and many negative consequences associated with alcohol, such as violence, risky sexual behavior, and binge drinking, are primarily linked to social drinking. Researchers advocate shifting the focus of future alcohol addiction research towards social factors, moving beyond the singular emphasis on solitary drinking.