Chunk #53 — Explanations for Greater Negative Social Consequences of Alcohol Use among African Americans Compared to European Americans — Social Sanctions for Alcohol Use
A protective factor that can also work as a risk factor for negative social consequences from consumption is the conservative set of norms and values found within the African American community. As stated earlier, the African American community generally holds norms of restricted use of alcohol with discouragement of drunkenness and intoxication (Borker et al., 1980; Herd, 1997a). It follows that African Americans who do engage in heavier drinking would be subject to greater within-group negative social consequences. Indeed, Herd (1994a) found that the specific negative social consequences most commonly reported by African Americans were within-group social consequences, such as more disagreements with family and friends, trouble with one’s spouse, and disapproval of one’s drinking by peers. It may be the case that some of the alcohol dependence symptoms endorsed by African Americans are related to social disapproval of this kind.
