# Is there alcohol at your family gatherings? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661 "2017-04-17T19:57:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/1 "2017-04-17T19:57:41Z")
Inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=824163), I just thought I’d ask. If so, what do you have? Beer? Wine? Liquor? When I was growing up, most holidays were spent with my mom’s side of the family, where my great-aunt and great-uncle (hardcore Southern Baptists) greatly frowned upon having wine or any alcohol at any family dinner or event. If I even approached the subject (after I turned 21), I was told that even approaching the subject would probably both upset and offend my great-uncle, so it wasn’t to be discussed. I remember one Christmas Eve, they originally weren’t able to attend, and the grandchildren were excited that we’d finally get to drink. Of course, at the last minute, they showed up and put a kibosh on those plans. Compare that with my friend from college who has an Irish heritage and they literally have kegs at pretty much every family gathering. When I first heard about it, I was shocked, but later I learned that my family was probably more the exception to the rule than the other way around. Nowadays, Christmas Day is more of an “immediate family” thing than getting all the various clans together, so my family has a tradition where I’ll make bloody marys (“maries?”), mimosas and screwdrivers for everyone. It’s fun going to the liquor store a few days before Christmas and stocking up on supplies, especially since I like to make complex concoctions, and my dad is more than willing to engage my mixology. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/2 "2017-04-17T19:59:57Z")
Beer and wine always, sometimes whiskey and/or vodka. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/3 "2017-04-17T20:04:23Z")
Only if I bring it. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/4 "2017-04-17T20:11:29Z")
My side of the family: BYOB/BYOW, but the host will usually have some bourbon, vodka, and gin available. Her side of the family #1: Usually some kind of beer and wine available (or bring your own.) Most of them lock up the liquor cabinet if they have one. Her side of the family #2: A 2-liter of Pepsi and a 2-liter of Sprite. They don’t even have coffee. Though my step-MIL pleasantly shocked the hell out of me yesterday by giving me a handle of Maker’s as an Easter gift. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/5 "2017-04-17T20:14:16Z")
My side of the family: always. Drinks before dinner, wine with dinner, something afterwards. My wife’s side: Just about never. They think anything alcoholic is some sort of special treat, like maybe on Christmas or something. If there’s a bottle of nice whiskey around on Christmas, everyone will have a tiny bit, and the same bottle will be there next Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/6 "2017-04-17T20:14:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Is there alcohol at your family gatherings? Yes. > [@](#): > > If so, what do you have? Beer? Wine? Liquor? Yes. There are always soft drinks available for those that want them (two of my relatives are recovered alcoholics). Most of the rest drink alcohol. Nobody gets into fights, passes out, vomits, or drives. It is a tradition in some families not to drink. In other families, to drink too much. In mine, mostly, to drink enough. Just another of those things I took for granted growing up - how to drink alcohol and not ruin the party for anyone else. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/7 "2017-04-17T20:18:35Z")
Yes, always. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/8 "2017-04-17T20:23:04Z")
Yes, just wine and beer though. Usually nothing harder. I don’t imbibe because I have a long (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hour depending on which relative is hosting) drive home after the festivities. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/9 "2017-04-17T20:24:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Yes, always. Yes, Mandatory. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/10 "2017-04-17T20:29:15Z")
My family is Mormon so it would be bizarre to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/11 "2017-04-17T20:32:25Z")
There’s never any alcohol if there is more than one generation present. Parent never drink in front of their kids and kids never drink in front of their parents. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/12 "2017-04-17T20:33:31Z")
\*\*Is there alcohol at your family gatherings? \*\*Aside from the last one, there always is. The last one for Easter yesterday was at my brother’s house, and he’s on the wagon, so we were all on the wagon. I suppose I could have brought something with me, but it was nice to show him some solidarity. I made up for it when I got home yesterday! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/13 "2017-04-17T20:34:09Z")
Depends on the outing. Maybe for Thanksgiving or Christmas we’ll have a glass or an adult beverage. When I threw my July 4th party I made white sangria and boy, did that go fast! ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/14 "2017-04-17T20:34:37Z")
Wine is a food group in my family. ---
**Author:** ![LiveFree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@LiveFree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveFree)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/15 "2017-04-17T20:35:36Z")
Yes, always wine when it’s at one of my sister’s house. Sometimes beer. I don’t usually host, but when I do, I don’t provide any alcohol. I don’t drink and won’t offer it. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/16 "2017-04-17T20:42:04Z")
My family gatherings have always been a no alcohol affair. Once when visiting my father I pulled into a parking spot at the local strip mall telling him I needed to run in to get something. He thought I was going into the grocery store. After I came out of the liquor store instead there was an uncomfortable silence on the ride home. All that for a little dry white wine to enhance my pasta primavera recipe. Sheesh. At least he did eat the dinner I prepared. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/17 "2017-04-17T20:43:36Z")
I don’t think anyone would come if there wasn’t alcohol. Always beer & wine, and usually at least one person has a bottle of vodka or something. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/18 "2017-04-17T20:43:38Z")
Not until dinner has been eaten and the dishes put away, and it’s time to play euchre. Then grandpa’s homemade cherry wine (or, with my husband’s family, mead) comes out of the cellar. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/19 "2017-04-17T20:46:23Z")
Always. Usually beer, sometimes whisky, occasionally wine. Those as are unable to imbibe, don’t. The alcohol isn’t _necessary_, but it’s present because we enjoy it. _Edit_: Mostly, we drink alcohol to enjoy the craft of those whom have made it. If that makes us snobs, well, we don’t care. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661/20 "2017-04-17T20:46:30Z")
As we have gotten older, our friends have quit drinking when they’re not at home, so, no. Growing up in the 50s, though, on my dad’s side there would be beer and wine, but no one had more than one. On my mom’s side, there was everything, and you also brought your own to contribute to the festivities. Almost everyone got drunk. Lots of people deciding to take naps by late afternoon. So lots of kids running around noisily, and lots of drunk or passed out adults. I don’t drink. I never have. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-alcohol-at-your-family-gatherings/784661.md?page=2)