Planned pleasures

Alcohol assemblages for ‘generation sensible’

Bibliographic Data

ID12601002
AuthorsJosefin Månsson (0000-0002-5189-2091, Stockholm University, corresponding author), Jukka Törrönen (0000-0003-2473-6330, Stockholm University), Eva Samuelsson (0000-0002-0508-2709, Stockholm University)
Year2024
Volume28
Issue9
Pages1351-1367
Publication date2024-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Youth Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1367-6261 • E-ISSN: 1469-9680
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13676261.2024.2370254
OpenAlexW4400259902
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited52

It has been suggested that a pivotal explanation for the drastic decrease in young people's alcohol consumption is the younger generations concern with taking responsibility for a variety of areas in their lives. Emanating from this, the overall aim of this article is to consider how alcohol and drinking situations are enacted among a group of emerging adults in Sweden from this 'generation sensible', and how they describe the relation between alcohol, pleasure and control. The study is based on 23 qualitative interviews with people aged 19–23. Inspired by assemblage theory we analyzed how important human and non-human elements congregate in described drinking situations. The analysis showed that alcohol is enacted as a strong psychoactive substance and described like other (illegal) drugs, rather than being seen as more harmless and acceptable. Pleasure in drinking is made possible through control and planning, and in downplaying the importance of drinking and the transgressive power of intoxication. We suggest that the risk-taking element in drinking is stigmatized among groups of emerging adults. It is concluded that while alcohol is described as unimportant to several participants, alcohol assemblages are not, therefore participants work hard to shape drinking situations to counteract loss of control

Alcohol · Alcohol consumption · Control (management · Developmental psychology · Environmental health · Heavy drinking · Pleasure · Poison control · Power (physics · Sociology · Variety (cybernetics · Homelessness and Social Issues · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Psychology · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

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