@article{ref1,
title="The 'sober eye': examining attitudes towards non-drinkers in Australia",
journal="Psychology and Health",
year="2020",
author="Cheers, Christopher and Callinan, Sarah and Pennay, Amy",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The proportion of Australians who choose not to drink alcohol has increased in recent years; yet, non-drinkers report experiences of stigma and judgement from peers for this choice. This study aimed to explore the attitudes that exist towards non-drinkers and examine what drives this stigma.   METHOD: Thematic analysis of four focus groups was undertaken, comprising 37 drinking and non-drinking Australian adults.   RESULTS: Three themes were identified that elucidate the stigma, with non-drinkers being perceived as a: (1) threat to fun, a judgemental 'sober eye' disrupting the desired hedonistic environment created by alcohol, (2) threat to connection, described as difficult to initiate and maintain a social connection with and (3) threat to self, with the presence of a non-drinker described by drinkers as encouraging an unwanted reflection on the problematic aspects of their own drinking. Participant responses also suggested that the gender of the non-drinker influenced these perceptions.   CONCLUSION: Through the lens of Integrated Threat Theory, this study proposes that the stigma experienced by non-drinkers may be understood as a response to threats non-drinkers are perceived to pose to drinkers' group values (e.g. hedonism) and self-esteem. This study offers new direction for health promotion efforts to challenge negative perceptions of non-drinkers.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0887-0446",
doi="10.1080/08870446.2020.1792905",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2020.1792905"
}