Drinking stories of emerging adults

Abstract

Abstract The period of emerging adulthood is seen as a period of transition from adolescence to adulthood and is associated with increased alcohol consumption. The aim of the study is to understand the meaning of alcohol for emerging adults through stories about alcohol intoxication. Eighty-two drinking stories written by emerging adults were analysed using the narrative oriented inquiry (NOI) method. The results are divided into three layers: (1) contents of the drinking stories, (2) discourses of drinking stories, (3) (re)construction of the identity of emerging adults in drinking stories. I sought to extend the current knowledge on drinking stories in two ways: (a) localization within emerging adulthood, (b) by using NOI methodology. Results show the importance of drinking stories for identity construction of emerging adults and as markers of the beginning and the end of emerging adulthood, albeit not a linear one.