According to Erich Goode, licit drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine can be used to achieve a certain mental or psychic state. Which term describes this practice in Goode's framework?

• A. Legal instrumental
• B. Legal recreational
• C. Illegal instrumental
• D. Illegal recreational

Answer: (B)

Goode’s framework separates why people use drugs from whether the drugs are legal, creating four categories: legal instrumental, legal recreational, illegal instrumental, and illegal recreational. When licit substances like alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine are used to change how a person feels—to relax, become more sociable, or simply experience a certain mood—that's legal recreational use. The key idea is that the motive is mood or social experience rather than accomplishing a specific practical task, which would be instrumental use. Since the substances are legally available, the category is legal, and because the aim is to alter a mental state for pleasure or sociability rather than to achieve a concrete outcome, it fits recreational rather than instrumental use. If the goal were to stay awake for work or study, it would be legal instrumental.