This article has been reviewed by Lester Morse, Director of Rehabs UK who has over 30 years’ experience helping individuals overcome various forms of addiction. Rehabs UK is a leading authority in addiction treatment and recovery and offers a range of connected services and support including detox and rehabilitation programmes as well as therapy.

Socially acceptable addiction can be defined by compulsive use or engagement with certain behaviours or substances which may be harmful to the individual but are widely accepted or encouraged by society. This could be due to the addiction being normalised within cultural and social contexts and therefore difficult to manage or address.

Common examples that are seen every day include alcohol, smoking, caffeine, gambling or technology use such as social media. Due to the popularity and normalisation of some of these addictions, it is often especially difficult for the individual to recognise they might have a problem and to seek help.

In this article, we will explore different types of socially acceptable addictions and how they have become established, while also drawing on expertise from Rehabs UK to provide support if you think you may have an addiction.

Contents

Addiction and social acceptance

Common socially acceptable drug addictions

Socially acceptable behavioural addictions

How can I tell if I have a problem?

Get in touch today

Addiction and social acceptance

Media, culture and peer pressure have a large impact on the shape of social acceptance when it comes to addictions. This is particularly evident in the UK, with advertising often glamorising drinking or portraying it as an essential part of social life. Substances such as tobacco and coffee are also currently legal in the UK and behaviours that could become addictive such as gambling, social media and shopping are deemed acceptable.

There are also addictions which are illegal in the UK that parts of society view as acceptable, such as prescription drugs, cannabis and in some cases party drugs such as cocaine. With reports of cocaine use in offices, hospitals, clubs and restaurants this is one of the drugs that seems to have infiltrated its way into daily life and acceptance among peers and some work places. It’s key to highlight that although these drugs might be viewed as acceptable they are not safe and can cause significant harm to those who use them.

Scott Ardley, Treatment Advisor at Rehabs UK states “the amount of people we hear from who use cocaine within the workplace has continued to increase, in some cases especially businesses in London, peoples bosses’ often encourage the use of the drug to increase the productivity at work, this can become dangerous quickly.’

Why is alcohol a socially acceptable addiction?

One of the most socially acceptable addictions globally is alcohol, which has a huge presence in everyday culture in the UK. Due to alcohol being legal, it is almost always present at celebrations, including birthdays, Christmas, workplace events and even religious ceremonies. According to research by DrinkAware, almost two thirds (61%) of drinkers in the UK over-indulge with alcohol over the festive season more than they usually do, while one in five (18%) say they typically suffer more hangovers during this period. An article highlighting how alcohol drink sales soared at UK supermarkets over the festive period in 2020 stated ‘Champagne sales increased 18%, crémant sales were up 51% and there were also strong gains for spirits: tequila grew 59%, flavoured vodka increased 50% and spiced rum continued its upward march by increasing 47%’.

But is alcohol a harmful drug? According to a 2023 report by Public Health England, alcohol misuse contributes to over 7,000 deaths annually in England, with alcohol-related hospital admissions exceeding 350,000 cases each year. Despite these alarming figures, alcohol consumption remains deeply ingrained in British culture.

A BMC Public Health study on the effect alcohol advertising has on drinking behaviour in young people showed exposure to alcohol advertising increases the likelihood of young people starting to drink and can lead to heavier drinking to those who already drink alcohol. For example, In a sample of non-drinkers aged 11 to 15 years, those reporting high receptivity to alcohol marketing were 77% more likely to initiate alcohol use one year later compared with youth reporting minimal receptivity.

For many with moderate consumption, there may not be anything too harmful going on, but with excessive drinking, defined by the NHS as ‘regularly consuming more than 14 units of alcohol per week’ there are many dangers such as addiction, liver disease and health complications people may be close to without realising.

In 2021–2022, there were 948,312 alcohol-related admissions in England, with a rate of 1,734 per 100,000 people. Even with so many shocking alcohol statistics available and knowing that this drug is extremely harmful, alcohol is often overlooked as a health concern.

The risks of alcohol:

• Liver disease
• Heart disease
• Mental health issues
• Cancer
• Weakened immune system
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Kidney problems

Why is tobacco a socially acceptable addiction?

For many individuals in the UK, smoking is a socially accepted addiction, partly due to marketing glamorising it for decades. Almost 6 million people still smoke in England and the UK saw approximately 64,000 smoking-related deaths in 2022, yet tobacco use is often still viewed as a "personal choice" rather than a severe addiction.

Smoking tobacco has started to decline in social acceptance over the last few years, perhaps due to public health campaigns, such as ‘Stoptober’ which has successfully helped 2.5 million smokers to make a quit attempt and has become a well-recognised annual event in the public health calendar. A reduction in marketing and the portrayal in media and films in recent years can also be a reason for the decline. There were 1,167 total tobacco incidents in the top 2022 films, (tobacco incidents are the number of times tobacco products appear in a film), a 50% decrease compared to the 2,315 tobacco incidents recorded in 2021.

However, it is still seen as socially acceptable to a lot of older generations. Similarly, the new vape culture is becoming more popular among younger generations which is causing a fresh concern as it could be seen as encouraging gate-way drugs for young people.

There are many dangers to smoking such as respiratory diseases, heart conditions and cancer.

The risks of Tobacco:

• Lung cancer
• Heart disease
• Respiratory problems
• Dental problems
• Fertility issues
• Weakening immune system

Why is caffeine a socially acceptable addiction?

Caffeine in coffee is often seen as a harmless stimulant. It’s widely consumed across the world with a high percentage in the UK. According to The British Coffee Association, in the UK, we now drink approximately 98 million cups of coffee per day with 80% of households reportedly buying instant coffee each week. As a stimulant, caffeine has properties that help individuals stay alert and, in some cases, be more productive.

With the rise in coffee shop culture and social media, caffeine addiction has been entirely normalised in the UK with 80% of people who visit coffee shops do so at least once a week, whilst 16% of people in the UK visit on a daily basis. In an interview with The Guardian about the amount of money people in the UK are spending on coffee, Jeffrey Young, the chief executive of coffee research specialists Allegra said “Coffee drinking came out of the home at scale, drinking coffee became a lifestyle experience, there were branded cups, you could sit in and take your time.”

In 2020 there were 26,000 outlets across the UK – from the main chains to independent coffee shops and cafes in supermarkets, service stations and retail stores – with the total market valued at more than £10bn. Costa is the biggest player, with 2,625 outlets, Starbucks has 995 and 1,048 of Gregg’s 2,000-plus stores fit Allegra’s criteria of a coffee shop.

So, how addictive is caffeine? It can depend on the individual as to how addictive the substance can be. According to Mayo Clinic some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others, and even small amounts can cause unwanted effects. They suggest that Up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults. That's roughly the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee. Although If the individual is consuming caffeine everyday it can quickly turn to become a dependency. You may want to stop drinking coffee if you have more than 4 cups a day and you experience some of the risks stated below;

The risks of caffeine:

• Sleep issues
• Nervousness
• Tremors
• Headaches
• Heart problems
• Digestion issues
• irritability

Why are alcohol and tobacco legal?

There are both historical and economic factors which lend themselves to why alcohol and tobacco remain legal. In particular, being able to tax them. The financial benefit of taxation could be one argument for keeping these drugs legal despite the health risks with their consumption.

In the UK the standard rate VAT is 20% on alcohol and tobacco products. According to the latest government statistics, total tobacco receipts for the latest complete quarter (April to June 2024) were £185 million (11%) higher than the same period last year. In Scotland much duty you pay depends on the type of alcohol and the alcohol’s strength, or ‘alcohol by volume’. For example, you buy a pack of 18 cans of 5% ABV lager (beer) at 500ml per can. The Alcohol Duty is worked out at:

18 x 500ml = 9 litres of lager.

5% (the ABV) of 9 litres = 0.45 litres of pure alcohol.

0.45 litres of pure alcohol x £21.01 (the duty rate) = £9.45 duty to pay.

Whereas with vodka:

You buy a 1 litre bottle of 40% ABV vodka (spirit). The Alcohol Duty you pay is worked out at:

1 litre of vodka.

40% (the ABV) of 1 litre = 0.4 litres of pure alcohol.

0.4 litres of pure alcohol x £31.64 (the duty rate) = £12.65 duty to pay.

This approach of using high tax as a deterrent, but also a revenue stream, could explain why these drugs remain legal.

Socially acceptable behavioural addictions

The difference between a behavioural addiction and a drug addiction is that the addiction is to a behaviour or habit rather than a substance such as eating, gambling and technology. Due to these behaviours being legal and part of everyday life it is often hard to monitor or regulate these addictions successfully.

Why is eating a socially acceptable addiction?

Food is often a central focus for many social and cultural situations. For example, celebrations such as Christmas or family gatherings. Dr. Sarah Jackson, a behavioural scientist at University College London, notes that “societal attitudes towards food and body image often contribute to the persistence of unhealthy eating habits, making it harder for individuals to seek help.”

Eating also often plays a part in coping mechanisms for emotional and stressful challenges. Scott Ardley, Senior Treatment Advisor at Rehabs UK states: “It’s common for people to not realise that their eating habits have become unhealthy and sometimes addictive.”

A report by The World Health Organization on Food marketing exposure claims that over the years unhealthy food marketing has increased fast food and processed snacks which has normalised some unhealthy eating patterns specifically targeting children and young people With constant new and exciting marketing campaigns which target the younger generation and reinforce these unhealthy behaviours towards food.

As well as mainstream media campaigns, other influences have had a huge impact for example, social media influences a lot of young people. Individuals participating in food challenges online where they have to consume 10,000 calories in one day, or the popularity of ‘mukbangs’ which is essentially watching people eat these all play a part in normalising unhealthy eating.

There is also the other end of the spectrum where individuals may be editing pictures to make themselves look thinner which provides unrealistic and unachievable goals for young people. A study which looked at the impact social media had on people editing photos showed Facebook and Instagram were the preferred social networking sites for posting photographs. One-fourth of the participants edited over 40% of the total photos posted to social media.

Fifty percent of the respondents felt the need to look better; repair skin damage; be able to look good without makeup; look younger; feel happier and improve total quality of life as a “lot and top” motivation for using the cosmetic dermatological procedures.

According to Public Health England, nearly two-thirds of adults in the UK are overweight or obese, a statistic that underscores how common overeating has become. This statistic shows how in the UK being overweight is normalised, if there is nothing in place to help prevent this from happening it will continue to be accepted.

However, apart from over eating there is also a big issue surrounding eating disorders in general. Charity BEAT, which focuses on helping individuals who might be dealing with an eating disorder and breaking the stigma surrounding it, estimates that around 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder. Anorexia and bulimia are a couple of disorders which have become a concern for many especially in recent years with the rise of social media and continued physical beauty standards. According to a survey by the NHS focusing on the rates of young people suffering with an eating disorder, girls, rates rose between 2017 (8.4%) and 2021 (17.8%) followed by stability over subsequent waves. For boys aged 11 to 16 years, rates remained stable between 2017 and 2021. However, the boys rate in 2023 (9.8%) showed a marked increase on the 2017 (5.1%).

A study by Cornell University claims the rise can be linked to multiple things such as social media and unrealistic beauty standards, as mentioned above, as well as the impact of COVID-19 and mental health problems, and in some cases, a coping mechanism for dealing with trauma.

Overall, the high percentage of people dealing with some form of eating disorder is concerning and does point to the fact that in some form this is socially acceptable for many people. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder don’t hesitate to contact our specialist team.

Why is gambling a socially acceptable addiction?

In the UK, gambling is a legal and heavily marketed industry, contributing to its normalisation. The UK Gambling Commission reported that nearly half of the UK adult population participated in some form of gambling in 2022. With the rise of gambling online it's easier than ever to start gambling casually as if it was a harmless mobile game.

According to the Gambling Commissions survey, The most popular way to access online gambling in 2020 remained via mobile phone, particularly for younger people While half of all online gamblers have done so on their smartphone, there is a clear age skew, with three-quarters of 18–34-year-old online gamblers using their smartphones compared to only 14% of those aged 65 and over.

A 2024 survey found that 48 percent of adults participated in some form of gambling in the past four weeks.

Gambling on sports is also highly popular, with advertising focused on betting contributing to the normalisation of gambling. A report by the University of Bristol business school identified 29,000 gambling advertisements across the opening weekend of the 2024/25 Premier League season - a 165% increase on the previous year - that makes the promotion of gambling an ever-present in our lives and may contribute to normalising it for young sports fans.

While gambling is often seen as a harmless pastime, it can lead to serious financial and mental health issues, including addiction. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) highlights that problem gambling is linked to higher rates of suicide, with gamblers being more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Why is technology a socially acceptable addiction?

There is no escaping from technology in everyday life. Its use within the workplace, education and social interaction has normalised its excessive use. Technology addiction, with social media, smartphones and video games being some of the most addictive behaviours, is increasingly being recognised as a serious addiction. However, some digital addictions are not recognised by the NHS or the World Health Organization (WHO), unlike gaming disorders, which were officially recognised in 2022.

Tech addiction can often lead to increased anxiety, depression and a decline in physical health. This could be due to the content individuals see online. The rise of social media influencers has made it almost impossible not to compare your life with others even if this version of themselves online might not be the truth.

One study in the US found that people who spent more than 6 hours per day on screen had a higher odds ratio of developing moderate or severe depression than those who spent 4 to 6 hours per day.

How can I tell if I have a problem?

Rehabs UK expert Treatment Advisors are able to help individuals to understand and identify any signs of addiction.

Scott Ardley, our leading Treatment Advisor states: “there are many different signs but the common ones include lose of neglect of responsibilities, loss of control over the substance or behaviour, continued use despite negative consequences and withdrawal symptoms.”

Get in touch today

If you or someone you know is struggling with any type of addiction, the first step is to speak with a medical professional or specialist such as our Treatment Advisors at Rehabs UK. An early intervention can make a big difference to the recovery process. For more information or a free assessment please contact our fully qualified team today!