Whisky, Women and Song: Men, Alcohol and AIDS in Northern Thailand

The prevalence of alcohol consumption prior to commercial sex interactions is frequently noted in discussion of Northern Thai men's behaviour. Rather than being simply a functional adjunct to commercial sex, I argue that drinking and drunkenness in Northern Thailand are complex behaviours through which gendered values are negotiated and publicly demonstrated. By exploring local meaning attached to drinking behaviour this paper shows that it is not a uniform practice but instead conforms to a series of scripts and patterned expectations only some of which implicate commercial sex.