„Kinda fills the gap, but not even close to the real thing“: online drinking during covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Socialization followed by alcohol consumption is a practice conducted throughout the world and a most common way of spending leisure and past-time in the west by far. Drinking practices, which we’ve known and regularly endorsed ourselves, have suffered an abruption followed by radical transformations since the beginning of covid-19 pandemic. From an anthropological perspective, this article deals with analyzing a distinctive form of drinking practice – online drinking, in March – July 2020th timeframe. This timeframe corresponds with anti-epidemic measures that were established and a significant institutional effort was put into conveying them. Since socialization that includes drinking requires and relies on physical imminence, social distancing became a plateau for valorization by different, often oppositely sided social groups. From embracing the measures to their complete refusal, social distancing entails the reason why online drinking never succeeded to gain the fame of its predeceasing, regular drinking practices.