Domestic drinking

Winter break for many students and faculty was a time of relaxation and mellow visits with family and old friends.\nSeized by holiday spirit, some took the opportunity to spread joy and cheer in their respective communities or assist at various charitable events. But not all. Many spent the winter break concentrated on one glorious moment -- when they could pack their bags, load the car and make the trek back to Bloomington to get on with their lives, uninterrupted by annoying families, people they would rather keep as far away as possible, and the generally bothersome stress that comes with the holiday season.\nIt is such stress (whether its cause is economical, personal or otherwise) that results in the commonplace poor holiday experience. Indeed, according to District Judge Stephen Gerlis in commentary for the Times Online, family courts often see an upheaval of domestic dispute injunctions in January as a result of family-charged atmosphere, money being spent where there is none to be had, time for reflection and realization of poor situations and, of course, alcohol. \nAnd now this column will proceed in giving thoughts on the evil that is alcohol, condemn its use in all settings, blame it for every problem that has ever arisen in the history of mankind and damn anyone who chose to consume it over break (including myself).\nWrong! So the column will proceed in giving thoughts that alcohol consumption during the holiday season was the best way to make it through the time you spent locked up with your mother or father with no chance of bail.\nWrong again! Rather there are simply some risks and benefits involved with such alcohol consumption that may be useful to know.\nFor instance, given that 34 percent of men and 27 percent of women use alcohol to deal with stress, according to PersonnelToday.com, it comes as little surprise that greater than half of American adults have what Medical News Today calls "direct" family experience with alcohol problems. With assault cases and domestic disputes around the holiday season, this is a clear problem. \nHowever, with the stress brought on by the holiday season (which generally affects us all), pouring shots of Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 might seem like a good alternative to screaming children, pushy parents and kissing aunts (to all my aunts: It's cool. I still love you). And you can admit that Jack may have been the guy you needed to see to cheer you up just enough to be pleasant around your family. That's a benefit if I've every seen one.\nSo here we are, back at IU, ready to learn or teach and once again swim in the glorious sea of cream and crimson. The wait is over for those counting down the days. And maybe rather than drinking to deal with the stress brought on by encounters with your family, avoid going home for spring break. Take a vacation and drink for fun.