Interview and focus group data were audio recorded with
consent, transcribed verbatim, anonymised and loaded into NVivo
software. Analysis was informed by grounded theory and
discursive psychology approaches. GW repeatedly read transcripts
and coded for emergent themes; early analysis informed later
interviews and focus groups [37]. Passages where participants
accounted for drinking were examined for discourse features such
as repertoires (recurring patterns of characterisation or metaphor)
or contested identity claims (where descriptions of self or another
are treated as questionable) [38]. Coding was refined through
discussion of emerging themes amongst all researchers. Focus
group data were used to triangulate findings from individual interviews; in each section below we report on findings from
individual interviews, and then consider how the focus group data
inform these themes. To reach a fully consistent interpretation of
the data, instances diverging from the themes were considered in
terms of how they might inform the interpretation. Lay reasoning,
identities and stigma were considered and brought to bear during
inductive analysis as theoretical constructs useful in interpreting
emerging themes. We focus here on identity formation around
alcohol, then on accounts of alcohol in relation to health, and
finally on any influence of gender.