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Drinking Patterns of the Mescalero Apache

1967; Alcohol Research Documentation; Volume: 28; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.15288/qjsa.1967.28.116

1946-7214

Richard T. Curley,

Latin American and Latino Studies

Since the establishment of their reservation in 1873, the Mescalero Apaches of southeastern New Mexico have been undergoing a process of culture change which has resulted in the disintegration of the traditional Apache culture. Today, most residents exhibit a marked cynicism towards White administration, Apache leaders and the processes of government. The economy is dependent upon the Federal Government, and most Apaches earn their living by working at menial part-time jobs in the employ of the Government. Both men and women tend to lack a sense of responsibility toward their work, their families and Mescalero society itself. The resulting social system does not provide a satisfactory role model for adolescents or for most adults. The important exceptions are the roles of the public official, the highly skilled worker, or, in some cases, the woman exercising the role of mother. The Reservation is characterized by a high incidence of drunkenness, and drinkers far outnumber nondrinkers. Adolescents generally begin to drink between the ages of 13 and 16. Girls begin at a slightly later age than boys, and their drinking is usually carried out in the company of boys and is often associated with sexual relations. Because the possession of liquor on the Reservation is illegal, drinking takes place in roadhouses off the Reservation (mostly beer), or in parked automobiles and in small groups in out-of-the-way places (usually wine). The pattern of Mescalero Apache drinking can be described as “blitz” drinking: Once an Apache begins to drink, he sets out to get drunk as rapidly as possible. Little social disapproval is levelled against drinkers, and a drunken man is not held responsible for his actions. Besides lacking a well-defined set of roles, the Mescalero Reservation has few corporate groups beyond the nuclear family. Drinking is one of the most important forms of group activity. Adolescent males are loosely organized into drinking groups, but adults prefer to select their drinking partners on a more informal basis. Mescalero Apaches engage in blitz drinking because of the uncertainty of their roles in society, because of the sociability of drinking, and because there is little else to do in a culture which has been denuded of its traditional religion, values and economic activity.