# Is Bill O'reilly an alcoholic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 4, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859 "2009-01-04T22:41:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/21 "2009-01-05T00:44:09Z")
> [@jakesteele](#): > > Having dealt with alcoholism both personally and thru family and friends I have noticed that Bill sounds and acts like someone who either has the problem, had the problem or grew up in a family that had the problem. > > I was wondering if anyone has any factual data/proof etc. on Bill’ status as a drunk, recovering drunk that is in state of “dry drunk”. OK, I’m with Alex\_Dubinsky: what, specifically, makes you think he’s an ex-alcoholic or was raised by alcoholics? He’s certainly got a hell of an attitude, but I don’t think this is unique to drinkers. And while, given the way this thread had gone, I’m wary of expressing opinions, if you’d like to provide some medical/scientific support for the “dry drunk” concept, I’d be interested to hear it. ---
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/22 "2009-01-05T00:54:53Z")
I see more of a coke head than an alcoholic. Doesn’t seem to be baked on bong hits, tho. ---
**Author:** ![spike404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@spike404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spike404)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/23 "2009-01-05T01:14:53Z")
“Is Bill O’reilly an alcoholic?” Unless he says he is, or there are a LOT of people citing specific examples of the condition–NO! A better question. Are a number of posters non-objective, and possessed of an agenda? YES! ---
**Author:** ![jakesteele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/24 "2009-01-05T01:33:01Z")
Dry drunk is a colloquial expression which describes an alcoholic who no longer drinks but is still behaving alcoholically. Also: [http://addictionrecoverybasics.com/2007/03/24/what-is-a-dry-drunk/](http://addictionrecoverybasics.com/2007/03/24/what-is-a-dry-drunk/) I didn’t mean to cause a stir, but I am an alcoholic and I grew up in a dysfunctional family. Dysfunctional familys have an unhealthy dynamic in that their attitudes, thought process, actions, emotions etc. are from “somewhat to major” skewed and distorted. When a addict starts their using their emotional growth is aborted and halted. In my case I am a “man/child” or as I heard once, “addicts/alcoholics are ego maniacs with a low self-esteem.” People like this end up compensating in a number of different was. Grandious, judgemental or passive aggressive people pleasers. Also, just as gay people that I know will joke about having “gaydar”, alcoholics have a same or similar type radar attuned to addictive behavior whether the addiction is active or non-active. It is the “it takes one to know one” type of thing. What I am saying is that I get that vibe from Bill. I have no proof one way or another and I am not passing judgement of making a personal attack. All I’m asking is if anyone knows for sure. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/25 "2009-01-05T01:39:30Z")
Dunno about the addiction issue, but he has lost his temper/patience more than once. He walked out on a Terri Gross interview a few years ago. He seems to me to be unstable and unpredictable for someone with his own show and following. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out that he does have some sort of addiction issue, but it may be an addiction to power. ---
**Author:** ![spike404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@spike404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spike404)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/26 "2009-01-05T01:43:26Z")
“…All I’m asking is if anyone knows for sure.” Obviously, not. Kinda like accusing a doctor of mal-practice. No matter what, any denial will be met with doubt by a number of people. Such accusations, based on “feelings”, should never be made. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/27 "2009-01-05T02:03:04Z")
Sorry **Colibri** , won’t happen again. **jsgoddess** has it right, though- I was venting my spleen at people who behave badly and suddenly develop alcoholism to excuse it, but this is not the forum for that and I apologize. To the OP- I believe that it is impossible to dx someone as an alcoholic based on watching them on television. I think this question might be better suited to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/28 "2009-01-05T02:05:00Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [Moderating] > > Once again, please keep your replies to the **factual** aspects of the OP. Political jabs and other such commentary are not appropriate here. Is there a factual answer to this at all that will be found on a message board? Seriously. I’ve seen plenty of famous people in AA meetings, and I sure as hell would never out them here. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/29 "2009-01-05T02:15:55Z")
Shouldn’t this be moved to **Cafe Society** , perhaps? Or even **Great Debates**? (To be fair, we ARE talking about what was wrong with the Travolta’s son-although there’s more evidence there, I would say) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/30 "2009-01-05T02:29:20Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Sorry **Colibri** , won’t happen again. **jsgoddess** has it right, though- I was venting my spleen at people who behave badly and suddenly develop alcoholism to excuse it, but this is not the forum for that and I apologize. Ok, I misinterpreted the remark as being directed at the OP. If you were not insulting another poster, I will change the warning to a note. > [@EJsGirl](#): > > Is there a factual answer to this at all that will be found on a message board? Seriously. > > I’ve seen plenty of famous people in AA meetings, and I sure as hell would never out them here. For all I know, it may be a matter of public record somewhere that O’Reilly may have been alcoholic at some point in his life. There are plenty of celebrities whose substance abuse problems are well known. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > Shouldn’t this be moved to **Cafe Society** , perhaps? Or even **Great Debates**? (To be fair, we ARE talking about what was wrong with the Travolta’s son-although there’s more evidence there, I would say) I am debating whether to move it or not. At least in theory there could be a factual answer to the OP, although at the moment this thread is generating far more heat than light. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/31 "2009-01-05T02:31:30Z")
> [@jakesteele](#): > > When a addict starts their using their emotional growth is aborted and halted. In my case I am a “man/child” or as I heard once, “addicts/alcoholics are ego maniacs with a low self-esteem.” People like this end up compensating in a number of different was. Grandious, judgemental or passive aggressive people pleasers. I have noticed this to be true, among people with certain addictions, especially drug use and alcoholism. It seems to mainly affect their coping abilities. If someone is a “user” from age 15 to 30, he comes out of it as a 30-year-old with a teen-ager’s ability to deal with life’s stresses, both internal and external. His maturity, in this respect, has been put on hold for 15 years. But we have no reason to think this is the case with O’Reilly. Sure, he can have a quick temper . . . which my father also had (much worse), though he rarely drank a drop. He did suffer from OCD, but his only addiction was nicotine. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were people who casually observed my father, and diagnosed him as an alcoholic. But they would have been wrong. ---
**Author:** ![spike404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@spike404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spike404)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/32 "2009-01-05T03:13:16Z")
“For all I know, it may be a matter of public record somewhere that O’Reilly may have been alcoholic at some point in his life.” What an inane statement. Where, if any, are public records of “alcoholics” kept? I know that “big brother” is becoming more prevalent, but I was not aware that there was an alcoholic list. Anyway, there is no law against alcoholism. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/33 "2009-01-05T03:32:45Z")
I think he might have been referring to, oh, say O’Reilly mentioning it in an interview or something. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/34 "2009-01-05T03:34:44Z")
“Public record” means any record available to the public. A news article, a biography, a taped admission. It’s a standard, common phrase normally understandable by one and all. ---
**Author:** ![spike404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@spike404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spike404)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/35 "2009-01-05T04:04:13Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > “Public record” means any record available to the public. A news article, a biography, a taped admission. It’s a standard, common phrase normally understandable by one and all. Question remains. Any records? ANYTHING? A broad brush, that splatters paint on the painter. “public record” also have reports of UFO’s, Sasquatch, etc… All true? Such an accusation is despicable. Since this forum is a “public record”, I repeat, despicable. public record n. any information, minutes, files, accounts or other records which a governmental body is required to maintain, and which must be accessible to scrutiny by the public. This includes the files of most legal actions. A court will take “judicial notice” of a public record (including hearsay in the record) introduced as evidence. For example: a recorded deed to show transfer of title or a criminal judgment are both public records. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/36 "2009-01-05T04:18:33Z")
Easy, Spike, “alcoholic” is probably the least objectionable thing O’Reilly’s been called on this board. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/37 "2009-01-05T04:43:07Z")
> [@spike404](#): > > “Is Bill O’reilly an alcoholic?” > > Unless he says he is, or there are a LOT of people citing specific examples of the condition–NO! > > A better question. Are a number of posters non-objective, and possessed of an agenda? YES! Um, O’Reilly can be an alcoholic regardless of his admission or any quantity of evidence. That doesn’t mean that he is one, of course, but the lack thereof proves nothing. And your question is not really any better, nor is it particularly relevant. > [@Alex\_Dubinsky](#): > > Bush was an alcoholic, and I’m guessing that was the source of his inability to speak. A. As **friedo** said, he can speak, he’s just not much for public speaking. Which is unfortunate, given his chosen career. B. Bush sr. had the same problems (sounding like a dumbass, that is), and as far as I know, he never had a substance problem. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/38 "2009-01-05T05:02:12Z")
> [@spike404](#): > > “For all I know, it may be a matter of public record somewhere that O’Reilly may have been alcoholic at some point in his life.” > > What an inane statement. > > Where, if any, are public records of “alcoholics” kept? > > I know that “big brother” is becoming more prevalent, but I was not aware that there was an alcoholic list. Anyway, there is no law against alcoholism. > [@spike404](#): > > Question remains. Any records? ANYTHING? > > A broad brush, that splatters paint on the painter. > > “public record” also have reports of UFO’s, Sasquatch, etc… All true? > > Such an accusation is despicable. Since this forum is a “public record”, I repeat, despicable. What I meant by “a matter of public record” is information available to the general public, such as published information in the media (as **Exapno Mapcase** described). I did not mean “public record” in the restricted technical sense of a formal record filed with a government agency. In any case, it is possible for public records related to alcohol abuse to exist, such as DUI and DWIs or arrest for public intoxication. [Moderating] Using terms such as “inane” and “despicable” is rather over the top for GQ with regard to a matter of word usage. I have not made any allegations about O’Reilly, just mentioned the kinds of records that might serve to factually answer the OP. **Spike404** , take it down several notches, whether with me or with other posters. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/39 "2009-01-05T05:36:50Z")
There is a problem with different people’s definitions of the idea of “alcoholism”. On one hand, some indoctrinated 12-steppers may consider just about anyone who acts selfishly, willfully, or against the will of some mysterious and ill-defined “higher power” and who has drank to excess at any single (or multiple) time(s) in his/her life to be an alcoholic even if that person hasn’t had a drink in twenty years. On the other hand, the DSM-IV doesn’t even consider “alcoholism” to be a condition, much less a disease. Trying to speculate or guess that a given individual abuses or is dependent on alcohol (which are the accepted alcohol-related conditions according to the DSM-IV–alcoholism as a faux “disease” is _not_) is folly; and is best left to cultists–not to the rationally inclined. Steer clear of this sort of superstitious mumbo-jumbo if you can. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859/40 "2009-01-05T05:42:20Z")
Given that this involves both a controversial political commentator _and_ alcoholism, I think at this point it’s a losing battle trying to keep it in GQ. I’m not sure how “great” the debate is, but I’m sending it to GD. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bill-oreilly-an-alcoholic/479859.md?page=3)