# Sam Malone on "Cheers" - sober alcoholic or 'dry drunk' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854 "2003-07-02T19:57:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/1 "2003-07-02T19:57:15Z")
Okay, so as I’ve mentioned a few times before on the MPSIMS board, I’ve been in recovery for about eight months now. I don’t want to come off as some sanctimonious blowhard (I know it’s only a t.v. show!) but I happen to be watching a rerun of “Cheers” and I got to thinking about the state of Sam Malone’s sobriety. It’s mentioned repeatedly in the series that Sam is a “former” alcoholic who bought the bar when he was boozing, and had nothing left but the bar by the time he quit. Sam is shown avoiding drinking, except for the episodes after he initially breaks up with Diane and falls off the wagon. Frasier arrives on the scene to “treat” Sam. But no other mention of his recovery ever seems to be mentioned. Granted, it’s not the focus of the show, but Sam never mentions belonging to any type of therapy group, A.A. of otherwise, or ever having been a member. In fact, towards the end of the series, Frasier convinces him to join SCA (Sexual Compulsives Anonymous) and Sam reacts with embarrassment and seems naive to the whole process; not the reaction of someone who is familiar with any type of 12 step program. So just what is he? Is he a dry drunk? Is his womanizing a facet of his addictive behavior? By constantly serving Norm, an obviously problem drinker, is he an enabler? I know “alcoholism is a self-diagnosed disease.” But since Sam’s a fictional character, I don’t think I’m being invasive by taking his inventory. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/2 "2003-07-02T20:09:18Z")
I would say he is a sober alcoholic. It’s the premise of the show, which you clearly stated. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/3 "2003-07-02T20:39:38Z")
I don’t believe in that AA “dry drunk” crap (you can tell you’re attending when you start parrotting the catch-phrases). He’s a sober person. That’s all. Do I have issues with AA? You betchya! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/4 "2003-07-02T20:51:19Z")
I think Coach was responsible for getting Sam to quit. A 24 hour a day personal addiction therapist. Hence Sam hiring Coach to work at the bar in return as well as to watch over him. Makes me think of John Rocker. After getting released by the Devil Ray’s AA team, maybe he should try buying a bar, too. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/5 "2003-07-02T22:16:07Z")
He did keep the bottle cap from the last beer he ever drank. It was his lucky bottle cap. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/6 "2003-07-02T22:17:44Z")
Well, not counting the timehe fell off the wagon. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/7 "2003-07-02T22:55:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Makes me think of John Rocker. After getting released by the Devil Ray’s AA team, maybe he should try buying a bar, too. [O/T] Good idea. Klansmen are always looking for a place to go after their cross-burnings. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/8 "2003-07-02T23:05:15Z")
Pardon my ignorance: what is a “dry drunk?” ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/9 "2003-07-02T23:26:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fiver \* > \*\*Pardon my ignorance: what is a “dry drunk?” \*\* It is someone who is sober but still behaves like an alcoholic with all of the inherent defense mechanisms in place to protect them from seeing reality. It is not crap, nor is AA, the earlier opinion to the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/10 "2003-07-02T23:38:17Z")
**Mockingbird** : > [@](#): > > It is not crap, nor is AA, Just saying that doesn’t make it true. So, a “dry drunk” isn’t drinking anymore, but somehow, someway, he’s “not seeing reality” and still has a problem? What a bunch of crap! ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_the\_CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_the\_CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_the_CC)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/11 "2003-07-03T00:06:55Z")
Er… a few minutes ago you were ignorant but now you’re preaching on that subject to the person who informed you? Just asking… ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/12 "2003-07-03T00:16:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fiver \* > \*\*What a bunch of crap! \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fiver \* > **Just saying that doesn’t make it true.** Well, I don’t think I could have responded to you any better myself. Thank you, **Fiver**. Point being, as **Earl of the CC** points out, you might not know what you are talking about. But of course, my saying it doesn’t make it true.:rolleyes: - d\_redguy (7 years sober and counting) ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/13 "2003-07-03T04:04:41Z")
Well, I clearly remember one episode (I think it was an early one) where Sam poured himself a drink, and there was a tense moment between he and Carla, but then he dumped the beer out. Can’t remember why though. I just remember that it was supposed to come across as a dramatic moment, so I’d say it was mentioned more than once, especially in the earlier part of the series. ---
**Author:** ![Donut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19adc/32.png) [@Donut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donut)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/14 "2003-07-03T06:32:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, I clearly remember one episode (I think it was an early one) where Sam poured himself a drink, and there was a tense moment between he and Carla, but then he dumped the beer out. I remember this episode, too. IIRC, Sam lost his lucky bottle cap and felt he was in danger of falling off the wagon. He poured the beer, and Carla thought he was going to drink it, but instead Sam poured the beer out and kept the cap from that bottle as his new lucky cap. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/15 "2003-07-03T06:46:19Z")
To insert some points from the source, or [one of the sources](http://www.lakeweb1.com/mrp/literature/drydrunk.htm), on the subject: > [@](#): > > This lack of sober realism manifests itself in many ways. > > 1. Grandiosity, put very simply, is an exaggeration of one’s own importance. This can be demonstrated either in terms of one’s strengths or weaknesses. In either case it is blatantly self- seeking or self-serving, putting oneself at the center of attention, from the “big me” who has ask the answers to the “poor me” whose cup of self-pity runneth over and wants all of our attention. > > 2. Judgmentalism is mutually related to grandiosity. It means that the alcoholic is prone to make value judgments - strikingly inappropriate evaluations - usually in terms of “goodness” or “badness”. > > 3. Intolerance leaves no room for delaying the gratification of personal desires. This is accomplished by gross confusion of priorities with the result that a mere whim or passing fancy is mistakenly given more importance than genuine personal needs. > > 4. Impulsivity is the result of intolerance or the lack of ability to delay gratification of personal desires. Impulsivity describes behavior which is heedless of the ultimate consequence for self or others. > > 5. Indecisiveness is related to impulsitivity in the sense that while the latter takes no realistic account of the consequences of the actions, the former precludes effective action altogether. Indecisiveness stems from an unrealistic exaggeration of the negative possibilities of the action ; so one wavers between two or more possible courses of action, more times than not- nothing gets done. > > These conditions, grandiosity, judgmentalism, intolerance ,impulsivity, and indecisiveness taken separately or together can lead to the following: a) Mood swings, which are unrelated to the circumstances to which one tries to link them. Alcoholics zero in on what they want others to think is the cause of the mood swing, when it isn’t that at all. More often than not it is something much deeper than the reason given. Inversely it can also be something totally insignificant with no substance at all (e.g. the sugar is too sweet or the donut is too round). Any excuse will do. b) Unable to demonstrate emotions freely, naturally and without constraint. No emotional spontaneity, no genuine spark. c) Introspection. A very healthy thing to do is difficult if not impossible for the “dry drunk”. It means to look inward to one’s examining each thought and desire, which is linked directly to one’s attitude. d) Detachment. Become aloof, display indifference, don’t care one way or the other, no special likes or dislikes, they withdraw. e) Self-absorption- with a tendency to call attention to whatever they have attained. Narcissism which is quite simply self-love. They become pompous asses. f) The inability to appreciate or enjoy themselves - nothing satisfies. g) Evidence of disorganization, is easily distracted, complains of boredom, and nothing seems to fit. h) A nostalgia sets in, a kind of wistful yearning for something of the past, such as freedom from care associated (falsely) with drinking, bars, drinking associates, and friends; the music, blue lights, and tinkle of the ice cubes in a glass in the neighborhood saloon. i) There can be a kind of romanticism, which includes unrealistic valuations of lifestyles and character traits which can be and usually are objectively dangerous to one’s sobriety. j) Escapism. Fantasizing, daydreaming, and wishful thinking are very much in evidence in the dry drunk syndrome as the individual slips farther and farther from reality. If you accept this as a valid syndrome, then you can compare Sam Malone’s behavior to this set of criteria. Personally, I don’t see much of that reflected in the show. Oddly, it’s this idea that anyone who is sober but doesn’t go to meetings that keeps me from attending the occasional meeting when I feel like it. If people haven’t seen you around for a while, they assume you’ve either been using, or that your life is miserable without the program. ---
**Author:** ![nebco9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@nebco9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nebco9)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/16 "2003-07-03T08:16:48Z")
As far as I can see, Sam is an alcoholic that sobered up. No AA or therapy. With all of the problems he seems to create you might classify him as a"dry drunk".🙂 It’s just a TV show, played for laughs, not reality. If Norm was an alcoholic and Sam stopped serving him, he would just find another bar that would. That’s reality. Some people, see **Kahoun** ’s post, don’t like AA. That’s up to them. In my case, just sobering up didn’t work so I got involved in that AA “shit”. Worked pretty good I guess, I’ve been sober 10+ years and still go to some meetings. By the way, congratulations on your 8 months! Don’t worry about Sam, pay attention to what your doing.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/17 "2003-07-03T08:25:00Z")
Sam Malone referred to himself as an alcoholic on at least one occasion. Woody was offering him a drink and Sam said “I can’t drink that stuff, I’m an alcoholic”. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/18 "2003-07-03T13:30:52Z")
[nitpick] And it was Diane who was with Sam when he “almost” drank. It was the first time she displayed some vulnerability in caring about him. 'Way back when we cared about _them_. ---
**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/19 "2003-07-03T13:51:39Z")
In the 2nd or 3rd episode of season 3, when Sam wants to quit therapy with Frasier (because he’s recovered) he says something like, “I’m been going to meetings.” If you wanted preachy AA stuff, you could have watched _The John Laroquette Show_ or _NYPD Blue_. On those shows, the only thing the characters were about was their alcoholism. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854/20 "2003-07-03T15:05:35Z")
The dramatic scene in which Diane (_not_ Carla) watches Sam about to take a drink climaxes when Sam spins a beer mug and makes it slide around the corner of the bar. He had temporarily lost this skill when he gave away his lucky bottle cap. In that scene, Sam declares that the cap from the beer he just opened is, in fact, his lucky bottle cap and he must have given the “wrong one” to the ballplayer who had borrowed (and subsequently lost) it. Addiction being a personal thing, I see no reason Sam couldn’t have stopped drinking without the help of AA or any other organized group. By the later seasons, the alcoholism was referred to less and less and I can imagine Sam’s bafflement at being advised to join SCA because who’d-a-thunk scoring with the babes was something to be _cured_ of? It was established (or at least hinted) that Sam had been a ladies’ man even before starting to play pro ball at age 17 (and thus not finishing high school). As I recall, his first “time” was briefly delayed because he had to cross the street to get to her house and had to wait for the crossing guard (who eventually became his second time). I’m pretty sure Frasier wasn’t brought in to treat Sam for his addiction per se. Rather, Diane (who had met and fallen in love with Frasier during her stay in an asylum) had brought Frasier to the bar because she thought Sam would need help getting over their relationship, which including slipping back into drinking. Why she thought her current boyfriend would make a good counsellor to her former boyfriend remains a mystery, but I’ll admit the show was greatly improved by bringing in Frasier (and eventually Lilith), giving _Cheers_ a chance for intellectual humour. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-malone-on-cheers-sober-alcoholic-or-dry-drunk/185854.md?page=2)