Discourse on Alcohol Consumption in Bangladesh: A Study on Presentation in Social Media
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Alcohol consumption in Bangladesh occupies a complex position, shaped by religious, cultural, legal, and public‑health dimensions. Although overall recorded prevalence is low, illicit consumption and harmful drinking remain concerns. With the expansion of social media and digital platforms, the discourse around alcohol—its availability, legitimacy, stigma, and regulation—is increasingly mediated online. This article examines how alcohol consumption is presented and debated on social media in Bangladesh, exploring dominant framings, underlying ideologies, and implications for policy and public health. Drawing on literature on alcohol regulation in Bangladesh, social media discourse studies, and content analysis of social media posts/pages related to alcohol, the article argues that online discourse reflects a tension: between prohibitionist cultural‑religious norms and emergent consumer/modernity practices, and that this tension has implications for governance, public health communication, and social stigma. The article ends with recommendations for regulatory policy, social media monitoring, risk communication, and further research.