Love Relationships and Drinking among Gay Men

Abstract

This paper discusses the interaction between alcohol use and love relationships among a sample of male homosexuals. Alcohol use is ubiquitous in the gay world, affecting couples as well as single men. Love relationships appear to reduce bar attendance, but do not necessarily affect alcohol consumption. Drinking may be encouraged through participation in a closed circle of coupled associates, through adoption of an “elegant” lifestyle, by involvement with an older, more sophisticated lover or with a partner who is a bartender. In addition, stresses and strains in a relationship, often the result of unclear role definitions and consequent power and equality issues, may increase drinking. Reductions in alcohol use were often the result of feeling secure in the relationship. Drinking, which is often encouraged, or at least not discouraged in the gay subculture, may lead to the dissolution of a couple.