A social lubricant is any food, beverage, drug, or activity that stimulates social interactions or helps people feel more comfortable in social occasions. [1] Different cultures use different social lubricants for this purpose. Some common social lubricants are:
- Humor [2]
- Music [3]
- Alcoholic beverages (beer in pub culture, or wine in wine bars, for example) [4]
- Coffee (in coffee cultures, for example)[ citation needed ]
- Tea (at tea parties, for example)[ citation needed ]
- Tobacco (in cigarettes or a hookah, for example)[ citation needed ]
- Cannabis [ citation needed ]
- Small talk (informal discourse or conversation, for example)[ citation needed ]
- Campfires and bonfires [ citation needed ]
Social lubricant is sometimes used as a euphemism for a bribe or other improper payment. [5]
Referring to alcohol or cannabis as social lubricants has been criticized because they have negative effects on empathy. Alcohol has the potential to increase aggression and cause disputes or violence. [6]