Russian folk discourse on problem drinking

Cultural discourse analysis was used to explore the data from 77 interviews with Russian respondents in order to describe and interpret what representatives of Russian culture understand by problematic alcohol consumption. The study identified two clusters of cultural terms that define problem drinking as either ‘to get drunk at one sitting’ (‘napit'sia’ – напиться) or ‘to consume alcohol in a regular and patterned way’ (‘pit’ – пить). The two term clusters were analyzed and compared as functioning in the folk discourse according to communication norms that are constituted by code and normative rules. Cultural propositions developed on the foundation of term clusters helped to formulate statements reflecting folk logic in defining problem drinking. Further analysis revealed a key cultural premise about problem drinking in Russian culture: it is dangerous to consume large quantities of alcohol at one sitting, but alcohol intake does not carry substantial long-term damage unless it acquires a regular, identifiable pattern and causes irreversible personal, relational, behavioral and emotional change noticed and verbally recognized by others.