Mellan risk och njutning
En diskursanalys av alkoholpreventionen i Systembolagets tidning Bolaget
Alcohol preventionAlcohol policySystembolagetSocial constructionCritical discourse analysisGenderAddictionAlkoholpreventionAlkoholpolitikSystembolagetKonstruktionKritisk diskursanalysGenusBeroende
The aim of this study is to describe and analyze how Bolaget, a paper published by the Swedish alcohol monopoly retailer Systembolaget, constructs issues of alcohol in 18 preventive articles published between 2009 and 2012. More specifically the essay focuses on the consequences of alcohol, as well as its consumers and functions. Systembolaget is a distributor of alcohol and at the same time has an assignment by the state to reduce alcohol-related harm. This double role makes the alcohol prevention of Systembolaget, and their perspective on consequences, consumers and functions of alcohol, an interesting object of study. The theoretical and methodological basis is Fairclough?s critical discourse analysis. The results show that a medical expertise is given the power to define the problems of alcohol. This has implications for the field of social work since it suggests that alcohol problems are mainly of physiological concern. Regarding drinking behavior, sobriety and moderation are two competing discourses; both are portrayed as desirable. Men?s and women?s drinking is problematized differently. A hegemonic discourse on gender, in which men and women are constructed as essentially different and men constitute the norm, is reproduced.