Chapter1 (INTRODUCTION)

EFFECTS OF THE DRINKABLE FORM OF

ALCOHOL TO SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

A Research Paper Presented to

Mr. Dustin Celestino of The English Resource Center

Asia Pacific College

Magallanes, Makati

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Course

RESWRIT-Research Writing

Gabriel Joseph S. Gamboa

October 2012

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Alcohol has a great impact on a person's behavior. Studies shows that the main reasons of drinking are parties, family celebration, the holidays, sporting event, an after work meeting with friends or co-workers or even having a favorite beverage to join a meal. Drinking  alcohol is "generally" associated with a personal gatherings. Drinking isn't necessary for such circumstances, but they make the occasion a celebration while not being used to as a crutch. 

       A liquid that is taken orally, alcohol is often taken in large quantities. Surveys shows that adolescent and young adult drinkers indicate that they are particularly likely to drink heavily with the intention of getting drunk - often every time people drink.Teenagers who abuse alcohol increase their risk of negative health effects because their organs, brain and mental capabilities are still growing. (http://www.casapalmera.com/articles/the-effects-of-alcohol-abuse-on-teens/)

Our brain can detect alcohol intake, it alarms us every time the alcohol level in our body reaches a certain level. James Madeiros said in his article entitled “Why Drinking Can Make You Throw Up” that there is a “vomiting center” of the brain; that’s right, a whole place dedicated to letting you know in quick order when it’s time to get rid of whatever has gotten into your body, or whatever you've been putting into your body. This area of the brain can be triggered by signals coming from the stomach, intestines, bloodstream, balancing systems (ears) or the brain itself. (http://thehealthydrinker.com/)

By the time a person starts drinking, alcohol will start affecting not just his body but also his mind. After one or two drinks the person can eventually feel better, confidence will improve and he will become more sociable but drinking too much will make walking and talking become much harder for him. People might also start to say things which they don’t mean and start behaving wild. Some of alcohol’s effects may disappear overnight but others can stay with the mind of your friends, and become permanent.

Social Acceptance is being transparent, authentic, friendly, talking about them more than us however, it is more than that. What makes people socially accepted is being seen by others and being seen means being open to public.Being open is not just about showing up, it is about self-acceptance of our imperfections and allowing people to see them. Acceptance of our imperfections and embracing them makes us vulnerable. 

One rejection can make people lose their self-confidence and has the tendency to shut down. Losing self-confidence tells people that we're not yet prepared to accept our imperfections that lead us to hide them. We always find a way to hide the shame which creates the feeling of being rejected by finding people to help us overcome the blame. Sometimes, we are unable to admit to it because the shame becomes too overwhelming.

There are lots of effects in our body that can be caused by alcohol. Many people think heavy drinking causes promiscuity, violence and anti-social behaviour. That's not necessarily true, argues Kate Fox .

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15265317)

      Since there have already been researches done about the negative effects of alcohol, this study will focus on the effects of alcohol on a person’s personal life specifically the person’s social relationship.

B Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer this question:

1.   What are the effects of alcohol in social relationship?

C. Significance of Study

Drinkers.

This paper would help people who consume alcohol to understand the bad sides of drinking alcohol. It would also aware them about the health risk that they might suffer if they will continue drinking alcohol.

Non-drinkers. For those people who does not drink alcoholic beverages. This paper will encourage them to stay as a non-drinker and make them understand the advantage of  those people who does not drink.

Students and young ones.

Almost 80 percent of high school students report drinking alcohol and over 40 percent of students report trying alcohol by the eighth grade. This would help them to understand that drinking should be done at the age of 18. At that age they will be responsible enough to make decisions by themselves such as choosing to drink or not to drink.

Self-Confessed Alcoholic.

For those people who have problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing.

D. Scope and Delimitation.

This study will focus on the effects of alcohol on a person’s personal life specifically the person’s social relationship.

This study will no longer focus too much on the effects of alcohol in our internal organs due to time constraints. Also because there are already lots of researches done about the bad effects of alcohol in our body.

E. Materials and Methods.

This study will use research since the researcher aims to know more about the effects of alcohol on social relationships.

 Information relevant to the study was gathered from various reference materials such as web sites and on-line journal articles.

F. Definition of Term.

Alcohol -  A drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. These are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption.

Alcoholism - A broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing.

           

Drinker – A person who consumes drinkable form of alcohol regularly, usually during parties, family celebration, the holidays, sporting event, an after work meeting with friends or co-workers or even having a favorite beverage to join a meal.

Ethanol. –  The drinkable form of alcohol,  also known as Ethyl Alcohol. Ethanol is an addictive, powerful, central nervous system depressant produced by the action of yeast cells on carbohydrates in fruits and grains.

Social Relation - refers to a relationship between two (i.e. a dyad), three (i.e. a triad) or more individuals (e.g. a social group). Social relations, derived from individual agency, form the basis of the social structure.

Self-Confidence

While I was watching a collegiate basketball game on TV, I was amazed by the performance of Letran Knight's Kevin Alas. He seem to have the highest confidence level on all of the arena. He made almost every single shot that he threw. He scored his career high 43 points and it's mainly because of his self-confidence.

Self-confidence really help a person improve his life. It makes him more effective and more productive on his job according to Self-Confidence Aids in Move Up Workplace Ladder. It was stated here that self-confidence is a key determinant of workplace success. And there is a strong correlation between confidence and occupational success.

But how can we improve our self-confidence? It starts with a smile. A smile is the best accessory a man could wear during a job interview or business conference. A smile could  make a very good impression on part of the person in front of you.  It sends a message that you are comfortable with yourself and with what you are saying or doing.

Next is by making an eye-contact. Eye contact makes a connection between you and the person that you are talking to. It shows your sincerity about the things that you are saying and makes you more believable. This really helps a lot specially on those people who are related to sales.

Another is by believing in yourself. How could others believe you if you can not even believe in your self? Forget what the other people are saying and focus on how you do your job. It would help you be more productive and effective. Never mind the standards of other people, you are the one who will be presenting and not them.

Dressing properly is also a key factor on building a strong self-confidence. It makes you look more powerful and creates a very good impression specially if you are going in a business related situation. It could carry your performance and make people forget about the little flaws on your presentation. 

 Talking very fast is one of the common sign of being nervous. Talking slowly but clearly will help you minimize your error and lets you point out your ideas. It would also help you watch your grammar. People will also have the chance to listen carefully.

And last but not the least, praying. If you believe in a higher power, whether God, or another spiritual force, it can be a real boost to self-confidence to say a silent prayer. This helps you to take a step back from your immediate situation, to see the wider picture and to seek help from something or someone greater than yourself. 

Alcoholic Parent

Parents are the ones responsible for raising their child, they are the reason why the child existed in the first place. Responsible parenting includes supporting of the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of the child from the time it is born until it reaches adulthood.

I wonder how could parents do such thing if they are alcoholic.

While reading my past blog posts, a question entered my mind: "How could a person deal with his parents if his parents are alcoholic?" I then started searching for cases where in the parents are the ones who are alcoholic. I encountered an article entitled How to Deal with an Alcoholic Parent. There are more than one author and their names were not stated.

The authors listed down 12 steps on how to deal with an Alcoholic Parent

1.Understand the causes of alcoholism.

2.You be the reason,you be the cause,& you be the motivation for abstinence.

3.Try talking to your parent when she or he is sober.        

4.Avoid arguing with a drunk parent.            

5.Stay consistent.        

6.Realize that your parent's alcoholism is not your fault

7.Let your feelings out.

8.Don't depend on your parent or trust what she or he says she or he will do unless your parent has proven that you can depend on him or her. 

9.Do things that will take your mind off the situation at home. 

10.Do not start drinking yourself

11.Get out if your parent becomes abusive.

12.Do not be afraid to tell someone

Understanding the main cause of alcohol abuse is the first step to know the reason behind alcoholism. According to the article depression is the most common reason why people drink. People tend to forget their problems while under the influence of alcohol. Another factor that would help prevent alcohol abuse is communication. Talking to your parents would really improve your relationship and helps you become open to each other. That way you could attract their attention and pull them away from alcohol. Next is by doing things that would help you focus on other stuffs and not on your situation at home. Thinking about the problem will not solve it, it will just make you less productive. Drinking will also make the situation worst, you can not solve a problem through another problem. And last, Don't be afraid to tell someone. Hiding your problems by yourself will not help you at all, it will just affect you even more. Telling someone about it will lessen the burden. That person might also help you solve your problem.

Socially Accepted Behaviour

Yesterday we had an activity in one of my Marketing class. The professor divided the class into five groups, composed of seven members each. We are then asked to assign the positions to each of the members and divide the tasks.

In the middle of the activity one of my group mate,the leader , asked our opinion about a certain scenario where in we are asked to solve a given problem. He then asked everyone to give suggestions or ideas on how to solve the said problem. We take turns on saying what we think will be the right way of approaching the problem while our leader listens and gives reactions to our suggestions.

 While I was giving my suggestion, without him hearing my whole idea, the leader suddenly interrupted and disagreed with my idea. I got mad when he did that because he should have just listen to me or at least let me finish my suggestion. I felt like I was rejected big time. 

The professor said that each group shall pass at least three suggestions and he will be the one to choose which among the suggestions is the best. Our leader wrote four suggestions, he included mine. The professor announced the top five suggestions, one each group, that he has chosen. Guess what, my suggestion was one of the chosen.

Being judgmental sometimes does not help on social relationship. The tendency is that the person will judge another by just merely looking at him. The person being looked at will not have the chance to defend his side because he was already judged by his looks. Rejection already took place even before acceptance.

While I was trying to add something in my blog, I came across an article entitled Clarington defines socially acceptable behaviour. by Tara Hatherly. It mainly talks about the do's and the don'ts to be socially accepted.

It was said there that The bylaw dictates that when in public, Clarington residents are expected to refrain from begging, urinating, vomiting, defecating, spitting, fighting, screaming, shouting, abusive or offensive communication and damaging or destroying public or private property, including knocking over, defacing or removing mailboxes, newspaper boxes, street signs, garbage containers and utility poles.

Based on my understandings, the authorities wants their people to behave accordingly to what is known to be socially acceptable when they are in public. 

But why do people need to be socially acceptable? Will that help them in their personal life? Studies shows that people who are socially accepted tend to be more happy and more productive than those people who always feel rejection.

Social relationship, according to Abraham Maslow, is one of our basic needs in order for us to survive. Acceptance really helps a lot in social relationships. It is the first step in creating a personal relationship to others. 

It takes two to build a friendship but needs only one to brake it.

Outline

I. Introduction
     A.Background of the Study.
     B.Statement of the Problem
     C.Significance of Study
     D.Scope and Delimitation
     E.Materials and Methods
     Definition of Terms

II. Discussion
     A.Effects of Alcohol
        i. Physical Effects of Alcohol
        ii. Appearance
        iii. Alcohol Poisoning
        iv Diseases and Cancers
        v Dependence
     B.Effects of Alcohol on Social Relationships
        i Acceptance
       ii.Rejection
       iii. Discrimination
III. Conclusion

IV. Recommendation

V. Sources

Social Acceptance

What Makes Us Socially Accepted

First thing about being socially accepted is being transparent, authentic, friendly, talking about them more than us however, it is more than that. What makes people socially accepted is being seen by others and being seen means being open to public.

Being open is not just about showing up, it is about self acceptance of our imperfections and allowing people to see them. Acceptance of our imperfections and embracing them makes us vulnerable. 

While surfing the internet, I came across an article entitled: Social Acceptance and Rejection: The Sweet and the Bitter. I think it would help me a lot in doing my research about Social Acceptance.

"We should assume that everyone is going to experience rejection on a semi-regular basis throughout their life." DeWall says.

One rejection can make people loose their self-confidence and has the tendency to shut down. Losing self-confidence tells people that we're not yet prepared to accept our imperfections that lead us to hide them.

Admit it, we all feel the insecurities of that rejection and sometimes we see that maybe they were right. Other times the pain of the rejection takes the best out of us that we are unable to get over of the shame of being rejected and continues  blaming ourselves. 

We always need blame to feel the rejection. Brene Brown said that blame rids us of discomfort. I think it goes a little further as it not only allows us to get rid of discomfort, it allows us to communicate and be seen  once again.

 We always find a way to hide the shame which creates the feeling of being rejected by finding people to help us overcome the blame. Sometimes, we are unable to admit to it because the shame becomes too overwhelming.

We hear advice on how to use social media everyday to help us grow our business. There are success stories but why isn't there a story telling us that someone did not make it? Why? Shame. If we'll tell an interviewer, during a job interview, that we failed so many times in our life do think you we will be accepted? I don't think so. 

No person would hire a failure, and no person would even want to be one. That makes us focus much on social acceptance.

Effects of Alcohol

Physical Effects of Alcohol

By the time you start drinking, alcohol will start affecting not just your body but also your mind. After one or two drinks you can eventually feel better, confidence will improve and you will become more sociable but drinking to much will make walking and talking become much harder for you. You might also start to say things that you don’t mean and start behaving wild. Some of alcohol’s effects may disappear overnight but others can stay with the mind of your friends, and become permanent.


If you will drink a lot night before, you are most likely to wake up with a hangover. Alcohol can irritate the stomach, heavy drinking can cause sickness and nausea and also diarrhea. Alcohol can also dehydrate people, it is the reason why drinking can lead to massive headache the moment you wake up.

Appearance

Alcohol can help you increase your waistline, drinking too much alcohol can make you fat. Some studies reveals that a man drinking five pints a week consumes the same number of calories as someone getting through 221 doughnuts a year. 

If you are working out during days and drinking during night, your effort of getting fit will be useless. You are just making the scenario worst.

Drinking too much alcohol can also affect your skin. It could also cause bloating and eyebags, alcohol also dries your skin and can lead to wrinkles and premature aging. It is known that people who are drinkers looks a lot older than people who are not even though they are of the same age.

Alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning causes lung damage (as you inhale your own vomit) and even lead to a heart attack.

Diseases and cancers

Liver disease

Studies shows that liver disease used to affect mainly drinkers in middle age, but now victims are getting younger.

Cancer

Alcohol abuse contributes to a large number of cancers, including liver cancer and mouth cancer, both of which are on the increase. Alcohol is second to smoking as a risk factor for oral and digestive tract cancers. 


Pancreatitis and diabetes

Pancreatitis is another disease caused by drinking. It results when your pancreas becomes inflamed and cells are damaged. Chronic Pancreatitis often results to Diabetes.

Heart disease

Some studies suggests that alcohol can help prevent heart disease often hit the headlines, the truth is that the jury’s still out on the extent of any benefits. And it is clear that any benefits coming from alcohol are arising from small amount of intake.

Mental Health

Drinking could also affect our mental health. Brain is one of the most affected organ while drinking. 

Dependence

Alcohols are addictive, it could affect a person's way of living as well as his family and friends, worst it could cost him his job.

These are some of the bad effects of alcohol. These could be prevented if people could be responsible enough to moderate the amount of alcohol that they are drinking or better if they will totally stop drinking. People tend to stop drinking only by the time they can feel the symptoms slowly appearing in their body. In that case, it is already to late to stop because alcohol already affected some of their organs.

Alcohol is addictive, drink moderately or better not to drink at all.

Vomiting

While I was on my way home last night, I saw a man leaning on a lamp post. He looks awful and he was holding the post trying not to fall down.  His arm was the only thing that keeps him standing. I bet a single bump would easily knock him down. And there is no one to support nor help him. 

I was wondering what was happening to that man during that time. Several thoughts came across my mind: He may be ill and somehow lost his balance and tries to grab something for him not to fall. He might have been involved in an accident near by and just grab the lamp post to recover. 

While I was getting closer to him, he suddenly leaned down and then puked. then I smelled something awful, a combination of smell of liquor and the famous Filipino delicacy, sisig.  That's when I realized that that man was drunk.

A question then entered my mind, "why do people vomit when they get drunk?". When I got home, I quickly turned-on the computer and started to look for answers in the internet. Then I came across an article entitled Why Drinking Can Make You Throw Up. written by James Madeiros in his blog The Healthy Drinker

James said that there is a “vomiting center” of the brain; that’s right, a whole place dedicated to letting you know in quick order when it’s time to get rid of whatever has gotten into your body, or whatever you’ve been putting into your body. This area of the brain can be triggered by signals coming from the stomach, intestines, bloodstream, balancing systems (ears) or the brain itself.

At first I thought that It was only the alcohol content that makes people vomit, but then I figured out that there are also some reasons. For instance, Gastritis could be the reason and also Alcoholic Poisoning.

Vomiting serves as a signal for a drinker. If he can already feel signs of dizziness and hallucination, he might as well stop before actually vomiting and be the party's center of attention. 

The World will never run out of alcohol. People do not have to consume all the drinks in the party in one night. It is okay to refuse a drink offered by someone, no one knows, it might be the glass that could knock you down.  Drinking is not bad, it is not prohibited by the law, but it doesn't mean that you can drink as many as you want. A drinker must be aware of the amount of alcohol he drunk. He must also take into consideration the privacy of the event and the people in his surroundings. 

Drink Moderately! 

Exercise1- Formal Language

This shows that people does not basically drink alcoholic beverages because they want it but rather it is part of their "being one" with their friends. They take the risks and consequences of drinking just to stay attached with the people in their surroundings.

Consuming alcoholic beverages is resulting from a search of personal satisfaction; enhancing social relationships may also be a reason. The probability of health risks increases as people tries to improve social status by drinking.

Living young, wild and free

Mango shake was one of my favorite drink while I was in high school. You could always see me drinking one. Besides the fact that it cools me down when the day is hot, I also liked it because it is healthy and it tastes great.  Every summer, mango shake never fails to refresh me up whenever I feel dry and thirsty. It is a perfect drink for sweaty person like me for it can re-hydrate me every now and then.

Last night, while I was surfing the internet, I came across an article about teens abusing alcohol. The article was The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Teens. It shows that it is very common for high school students to consume alcohol. 

I was surprised of what I've read because it says that almost 80 percent of high school students report drinking alcohol and over 40 percent of students report trying alcohol by the eighth grade. I was still drinking milk when I was at that age! The article also shows the different effects of alcohol abuse in  human being, specifically teenagers.

After reading that article, some questions went inside my mind:

• What is their reason for drinking alcohol?
• Who influences them to drink?
• Why are the victims of alcohol abuse getting younger?
• How could this be prevented?

I think those questions can only be answered by those people involved. They have their own different lives that's why I cannot come up with only one conclusion. There are lots of factors to be considered and I am hoping to learn more about it as I continue researching about alcoholism.

Alcoholism

Have you ever been drunk? If yes, does it feel good? What are your reasons for drinking up alcohol? I can't imagine that the reason is the taste because I my self doesn't like the taste nor the smell of it. It makes me wonder how come some people, like me, doesn't even like to taste it and why some includes it in their daily consumption.

The drinkable form of alcohol is Ethanol, or also known as Ethyl Alcohol. Ethanol is an addictive, powerful, central nervous system depressant produced by the action of yeast cells on carbohydrates in fruits and grains.

A liquid that is taken orally, alcohol is often taken in large quantities. Surveys shows that adolescent and young adult drinkers indicate that they are particularly likely to drink heavily with the intention of getting drunk - often every time they drink. 

But what is the reason why they want to get drunk? Does it feel good? 

The following are signs of alcohol  intake:

Signs and symptoms of alcohol use and intoxication: 
• Smell of alcohol on breath 
• Irritability 
• Euphoria 
• Loss of physical coordination 
• Inappropriate or violent behavior 
• Loss of balance 
• Unsteady gait 
• Slurred and/or incoherent speech 
• Loss of consciousness 
• Slowed thinking 
• Depression 
• Impaired short-term memory 
• Blackouts 

These symptoms doesn't sound good but why do people likes to get drunk.

Studies shows that the main reasons of drinking are parties, family celebration,the holidays, sporting event, an after work meeting with friends or co-workers or even having a favorite beverage to join a meal. Drinking  alcohol is "generally" associated with a personal gatherings. Drinking isn't necessary for such circumstances, but they make the occasion a celebration while not being used to as a crutch. The point is , people want to be accepted by their friends, families and co-workers and alcohol can help to them achieve that acceptance.

This shows that people does not basically drink alcoholic beverages because they want it but rather it is part of their "being one" with their friends. They take the risks and consequences of drinking just to stay attached with the people in their surroundings.