ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the three main ethical dilemmas apparent in the inclusion of intoxicated participants in ethnographic studies of nightlife tourism: informed consent; the degree which the researcher should participate; and the safety of the researcher and participants in such contexts. Obtaining consent from participants who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be either a challenge or an obstacle to data collection. Intoxication ‘is not a straightforwardly identifiable state that occurs in an easily measurable way’ as situational factors and individual tolerance to substances must be considered. Joseph and Donnelly believe that drinking alcohol with informants has a significant influence on the three pillars of ethnography: ‘building rapport, data collection and representation’. Yet concerns can arise when boundaries become blurred between the roles of researcher and willing participant when placing oneself in morally and socially ambiguous situations. Alcohol and drug use can heighten the emotions of individuals, whilst also lowering inhibitions.