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Four Thought

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Series of thought-provoking talks on topics that affect culture and society.

Series of thought-provoking talks in which the speakers air their thinking on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society

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Four Thought: Series 2

Four Thought: Series 2: Episode 25: Kate Fox: Understanding Alcohol

Kate Fox: Understanding Alcohol

Episode 25

Episode 25: Kate Fox: Understanding Alcohol

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 - Four Thought, Series 2, Kate Fox: Understanding Alcohol

Kate Fox argues we need to re-learn what we think we know about the effects of alcohol.

Social anthropologist Kate Fox calls for a big change in how we discuss alcohol and says it would reduce violence and anti-social behaviour.

Social anthropologist Kate Fox argues that we need to re-learn much of what we think we know about the effects of alcohol.

Alcohol does not make us disinhibited, violent or anti-social, she says. Many cultures around the world, some of which drink more than we do, have none of these problems. So what causes them here?

Kate Fox, whose research centre has conducted numerous studies into the social and cultural aspects of alcohol for the government, the drinks industry and others, argues that it is down to what we believe alcohol will do to us. 

And while she cites science and sociology, it is her conclusions about how we fight the harm currently caused by our mistaken beliefs which are so far-reaching. Out should go the approach which says alcohol causes bad behaviour, she says, with a focus instead on taking responsibility and normalising alcohol.

Four Thought is a series of talks which combine thought provoking ideas and engaging storytelling. 

Recorded in front of an audience at the RSA in London, speakers take to the stage to air their latest thinking on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect our culture and society.

Producer: Giles Edwards.

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Four Thought

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Episode 25: Kate Fox: Understanding Alcohol

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