“For the shame of bein’ young, drunk, and alone” : how apathy and a need for social connection influence alcohol consumption in Vermont

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is higher in rural areas of the United States in comparison to its urban and suburban counterparts. In the Northeast state of Vermont, rates of alcohol consumption and binge drinking are higher than surrounding states and the national average. The literature covering alcohol consumption uses quantitative research methods to report the rates of consumption, but there is a limited amount of qualitative research surrounding the reasons behind <i>why</i> people consume alcohol in rural areas. This research looks at how social connection and apathy influence the rates of alcohol consumption in Vermont. This study uses qualitative interviews to collect primary data from four participants living in and around the village of Pittsfield, Vermont. Participants were asked questions about their social life, hobbies, alcohol consumption habits, and their own thoughts on the research question. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, then analyzed and coded for social and cultural norms, environmental influences, and personal strains. Social connection, cultural norms, apathy, boredom, and personal strains had an influence on both the likelihood that the participant was going to consume alcohol in a particular situation and the amount of alcohol that is consumed in a single period.