Socio-Cultural Factors Influencing Alcohol Consumption Among Older People in Kounahiri (Côte d'Ivoire)

This paper examines the socio-cultural determinants influencing alcohol consumption among older people in Kounahiri. Based on accidental sampling, the study collected data via a questionnaire, analysed using Sphinx Lexica 4.5 and IBM SPSS Statistics 25 software. The results show a correlation between level of education and the types of alcohol consumed: people with low levels of education prefer strong local alcohols (koutoukou, palm wine), while those with higher levels of education prefer wine and beer, revealing economic and cultural disparities. Alcohol consumption is essentially part of a social and ritual framework, structuring collective interactions during initiation ceremonies, funerals and festivities. This phenomenon illustrates a dynamic of cultural transmission in which alcohol, beyond its individual use, remains an essential vector of social cohesion and community identity.