|
gungadin09 -> RE: Why the "No-Alcohol in my house policy" when there aren't any kids in it?? (3/7/2011 5:48:15 PM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Jaybeee
This is something that puzzles me about some American families. Here in the UK it is very rare to find a house that doesn't allow alcohol for reasons unrelated to:
1) Religion;
2) Exposure of children;
3) Protecting a recovering alcoholic.
Yet from what I see of US society from a few people I've spoken to and on tv, many Americans have a suprisingly puritanical attitude towards it passing through their front doors.
Anyone know why this should be, apart from the reasons above?
Are You saying that the Americans You spoke to (who had a puritanical attitude towards alcohol in their homes) did NOT do it for any of those reasons? How do You *know* that? Did You ask? It would be obvious whether or not they had kids, but the other two reasons, religion and recovering alcoholism, would not be obvious at a glance. And it might be impertinent to ask such a personal question. Do You absolutely know that those weren't the reasons?
Alcohol was not allowed in my parents' home when i was growing up, because of religion. (Coffee, tea, cigarettes, playing cards, and a number of other things weren't allowed either, for the same reason.) From my parents' point of view, those things were sinful and they didn't want them in the house, regardless of whether it was somebody else using them. We were Mormon. i know of other Mormon families who had a greater degree of tolerance for other people bringing alcohol into their homes. So i guess it's subjective, and my parents were kind of strict.
i'm not Mormon anymore, but if i were, i wouldn't have a problem with people bringing their own wine to a dinner party i was throwing. Especially since bringing wine or beer (or whatever drink, to a party) seems to be a gesture of courtesy for many people. i would be especially tolerant if it were a mixed crowd of guests. If nearly everybody was Mormon, and the one person who wasn't brought wine, it might create an awkward situation. Some Mormons are kind of uptight about alcohol, and it might also be embarassing to be the one person drinking wine when no one else was. But i know my parents went to dinner parties all the time where alcohol was served, and it wasn't a big deal. They just didn't partake.
i don't know whether Americans in general are more puritanical about alcohol than the British. It's possible. Alcohol was outlawed here less than a hundred years ago. Prohibition lasted only 13 years on the national level (regionally, in some places, it lasted much longer), but it does indicate that there was a hostility to alcohol in America, at least at the time. As far as i know, religion was the main reason behind Prohibition.
i think You've answered Your own question. Children, recovering alcoholism, and religion are the most likely reasons why certain Americans don't like having alcohol brought into their homes, especially religion. (i doubt whether there are more children or recovering alcoholics here than in the U.K.) Also, the effect of certain religions on American culture. i'd say there has been a sort of puritanical streak to American culture since it's foundation. That's my best guess to explain the difference, if there is indeed a difference between American and British attitudes towards alcohol.
pam
P.S.- Having said that, i can't imagine being *offended* that someone else didn't allow alcohol in their home, regardless of their reason. Being a guest in someone's home means exactly that: being their *guest*. They set the rules, and it's for me to abide by them.
|
|
|
|
