Express Action Sports

For example… Alfred gets fired from his job one day. In response, he goes out to the bar, drinks 8 scotches, and then goes home and beats his wife.

Barney, a different man, loses some money on a sports bet. In response, he goes out to the bar, drinks 8 bourbons, and then goes home and beats his wife. Coincidentally, he does this with the same number/force of blows/motions, etc. as Alfred.

Is this the same (unfortunate) action occuring twice or two separate actions occuring once each?

Depends on what your definition of "action" is in this particular case.

If your definition of action is "beating his wife" then, you are right. The same action occurred twice.

However, if your definition of action is "Alfred getting fired from his job and beating his wife out of anger." then it would be a case without equivalent.