Four hundred rabbits
Subtitle: expressions of drunkenness
By: edited by Anne Fox and Mike MacAvoy.
Contributors: Fox, Anne.; MacAvoy, Mike.
Publisher: Brunner-Routledge
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 190
ISBN-13: 9780415992138
Subjects: Alcoholism -- Social aspects; Alcoholism -- Physiological aspects; Human behavior
Description: "The phrase "four hundred rabbits" is one of many illustrations of the deep cultural, religious, and social influences on how individuals and communities view alcohol intoxication: The Aztecs believed alcohol to have a divine origin, with a god and goddess giving birth to 400 (meaning "innumerable" in ancient Aztec) divine children or "rabbit gods," each representing a varying degree and expression of alcohol intoxication and drunkenness. Hence the book's subtitle, which at first glance might seem light-hearted but in fact represents an in-depth look at a weighty topic. With such rooted sociocultural factors in mind, the International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) and DrinkWise Australia collaborated to prepare a publication that advances current understanding of the individual and collective meanings, purposes, and functions of drunkenness. As the authors explain, interpretations by different disciplines of the terms intoxication and drunkenness are often inconsistent. The chapters of this book discuss intoxication and drunkenness from three perspectives: biological, cultural, and social. By placing intoxication and drunkenness into these contexts, the book is able to offer language and conceptual tools to help advance the ongoing discussion on how best to reduce alcohol-related harm and encourage responsible enjoyment of beverage alcohol."--Publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.