h Services hospitals was more than twice as likely for a man than for a woman. 26.5 % of deaths for Native American males and 13.2 % for females were alcohol related in 1995 (Beauvais, 1998). These figures may indicate that alcoholic males are more likely to incur injuries or death as a result of alcohol. In areas where culture and religion combine women may be completely abstinent, as in a 1983 study in India (Bennett et. al. 1998). Cross Cultural ComparisonWhile a first glance at alcoholism and oft-enforced stereotypes would indicate that certain populations are more genetically disposed to alcohol problems, research shows otherwise. In a comparison of several vastly different populations spanning a variety of ethnic makeups there is little evidence to conclude that some groups have an increased genetic tendency towards alcoholism (Bennett et. al., 1998). Commonly held conceptions that Irish, Russian or Native American populations are biologically more susceptible to alcoholism have no foundation. One exception, the interesting example of many Asian peoples’ reaction to alcohol, will be discussed further in the paper.One study by Doctors Bennett, Campillo, Chandrashekar and Gureje took as examples India, Mexico and Nigeria for a cross-cultural analysis of drinking behaviors and patterns. These particular countries were chosen because in domains such as culture, geographic location, language and ethnicity they had little in common. The goal of the researchers was to establish some type of pattern unifying drinking and drinking problems across cultural boundaries. Also, as research on drinking tends to evaluate ethnic groups in a way that can be construed as racist, such as concentrating on Hispanics, Native Americans and African Americans as compared to Whites in the United States, the researchers here emphasized the separation of these particular nations. All three nations evaluated have histories of alcohol use in their ...
