Ritual Zero Proof recently sponsored a survey of 2,000 Americans over the age of 21 regarding family gatherings during the holidays. The results are “sobering”:
- 60 percent dread going to such gatherings.
- 63 percent agree that there’s always one family member who takes things too far when it comes to “indulging” during the holidays.
- 58 percent agree that their entire family drinks too much at holiday gatherings.
- 33 percent agree that it is their uncle who is likely to overindulge and do something shocking.
- 47 percent say politics is their least favorite dinner table discussion topic, with family gossip (42%) and personal drama (41%) following closely behind.
- Respondents said that mom (31%) and dad (30%) lead the charge in bringing up uncomfortable subjects.
- 43 percent of people surveyed said that leaving early is one of the most common party faux pas at family parties (they must not know about the Irish goodbye), followed by yelling (39%) and drinking too much (38%).
- 48 percent admit to drinking more at family holiday gatherings — more so than any other social event during the year.
When asked about the most embarrassing thing someone has done at a family holiday get-together, one respondent took the term “lit” a bit too literally and “fell in a fire pit.” Another popular, embarrassing behavior was vomiting, whether it be “on another person,” “on the table,” or even “on the host.”
But it’s not just family gatherings where there are such problems.
- 66 percent of respondents agree that there’s always one coworker who takes it too far at holiday office parties.
- 62 percent also confess that they’ll drink more than usual if there’s an open bar at the office party — specifically because it’s free.
- 69 percent believe that too much booze is available at parties in general.
- 75 percent feel the holiday party is where they truly find out what their coworkers are like. This also proved to be one of the top reasons people attend office parties, with 46 percent seeking to discover the hidden sides of their colleagues.
- 62 percent of respondents say they’ve dreaded going to work the day after an office party due to embarrassment.
- 64 percent admit that they couldn’t look at some of their coworkers the same way once the celebration ended.
- 56 percent worry that they themselves might get fired after office holiday party events
- 47 percent have a desire to reduce their alcohol consumption.
According to one respondent, “[A] coworker got drunk and fell into the Christmas tree and knocked it over, then threw up in the boss’s driveway.”
The results may make you wonder why families and businesses still have such gatherings.
You may have also picked up a theme here – alcohol is at the heart of many of these problems.
And so it may not surprise you, and those with a sharp eye may have caught this right at the start of this post, that the survey was sponsored by a company that makes non-alcoholic liquor.
Ritual Zero Proof bills itself as the true liquor replacement. They sell alcohol-free rum, tequila, whiskey, and gin. The beverage comes in the same type of bottle that regular alcohol comes in.
So perhaps if you are hosting this year’s holiday family gathering, you can secretly replace the alcohol with Ritual Zero Proof.
My guess, though, is that the uncle will still make a fool of himself.
I speak from first-hand experience as an uncle…
*image from Movie TV Tech Geeks
‘Tis the season, Jim 🙂
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the season for uncomfotable family and worker gatherings 🙂
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It wouldn’t be without it. 🙂
Besides, only when you can’t attend you realize how much you miss them…
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how true. and it is those uncomfortable moments that everyone remembers! 🙂
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I think we all need the alcohol just to make it through those family gatherings. I will also admit to no longer attending so I need to drink so much less.
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sounds like you found a solution that works for you!
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I’ve rarely attended a private gathering where booze was provided! Generally, we BYOB which I find helps somewhat bc you’re not consuming like you’re at a buffet! But yes, based on the respondents the parties would suck a lot not without the booze LOL… moderation moderation moderation! I’m sticking to that!
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moderation is the way to go – but it doesn’t create any excitement 🙂
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I think Phyliss Diller said that the thing she hated most about office parties was looking for a new job the next day. But I wonder, if people think they’re getting booze, when it’s really non-alcoholic, would they behave like they’re drunk anyway? Maybe the booze is just an excuse to act like a fool.
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wow – I have not heard that name in along time. Phyliss had some great lines.
I wouldn’t be surprised if people started acting drunk because they thought they were drinking alcohol but they were not
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That will be an interesting experiment actually. Offer boozeless booze as if it was the real thing and see who is looking for an excuse to make a fool out of themselves.
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That would be a fun experiment to watch 😁
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I should look it up to see if such a study was ever done. I am sure it has been…
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I’m sure a few people would. Environment and tradition may trump the non-alcoholic beverage…
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Trump? I blame him for everything including my age!
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I think a lot of people aged more than their chronological age while he was President…
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Too bad, so sad…Took me a minute to follow your reference to Trump but then again, based on the title, I thought this post would be about a survey related to the ongoing pandemic. Silly me?
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yea, I was just responding to another blogger’s comment…
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Hi Jim, I am the one who always leaves early. I leave when I’ve had enough and when asked I will say that. My family know this about me. After all, we don’t chose our families do we, we get to love and endure them [grin].
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that sounds like a wonderful tradition you have started of leaving early!
and yes, family is family…
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Not too many big drinkers on my side of the family, but my wife’s side usually has a bit of drama. It’s a bit ironic since she isn’t that way at all. I used to cut out pretty early out of work parties. A large percentage of the time, somebody would overindulge and make a fool of themself.
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good move getting out of those work parties a bit early. I stopped going to ours several years go…
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Lol.. ah those were the days both at home and at the office and to be honest so much truth despite the great marketing ploy by the company..The trouble can start in my experience before the family sit down for dinner when there is a policy of one glass of sherry in the trifle and two in the cook….great post Jim thank you..xx
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that ratio of sherry seems just about right 🙂
glad you enjoyed the post, Sally…
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Oh dear.. All of that is a distant memory.. But what fun they were… I’m abstaining this year apart from the xmas pud I am as of 2 days ago joining in solidarity with my girls while they are having chemo xx
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yes, all that excitement can lead to some fun times 🙂
best of luck to your girls with the chemo…
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Thank you Jim your kind words are much appreciated x
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I think these things are all common in any social get together where people are comfortable enough with each other to feel uncomfortable with each other. with strangers, I’m guessing it doesn’t happen as much. as you know, I am a huge proponent of the Irish goodbye and am pretty good at it.
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that’s a good point. I think ti does require a bit of feeling just comfortable enough at such gatherings, and then going beyond your limits.
and yes, I remember mentioning the Irish goodbye as well. it is such a useful tool…
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Alcohol may be a short cut to acting the fool, but it is not the only path.
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I’ve traveled many such paths…
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Makes me glad I don’t drink alcohol. I can be stupid without its assistance…
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ditto…
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If someone threw up on me, it would start a chain reaction of vomiting. Talk about a way to end a party. Holidays are tough enough without making things worse.
I agree that the boozeless booze experiment would be interesting, though. If anyone tries it, I’d love to hear the results.
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that would be quite a memorable party…
I’ll try to see if any such experiment has been done. I am guessing it has been…
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The trouble is, if you’re used to holding back because you’re driving, the joy of not being the driver (eg. staying over, or travelling with a teatotal driver) you forget the other reason why you don’t want to drink too much – the morning after.
And of course the OTHER other reason – making a pratt of yourself. But with luck, the rest of the party will have drunk too much to recall your faux-pas.
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I guess that’s the hope if you do commit a faux pas!
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Isn’t it “normal” for people to drink more than “normal” when they have parties and family gettogethers? Anyone who drinks as much at home as they do at a party may have a problem. The people at RitualZero are a bunch of partypoopers and their bias is obvious. I love (not dread) going to family gatherings during the holidays. Its about the only time I see many friends and family.
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I enjoy family gatherings as well, and will typically have one or two beers at such events. It’s always enjoyable to see each other, but I am also happy when it is time to leave…
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Thank god those days are all in the past.
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same with me…
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Hmph! Lightweights ! 😆 Just kidding . 😐As a child of an alcoholic , none of those scenes are funny to me .
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it would be tough to watch a parent behave in such ways…
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These scenes don’t happen at our family gatherings. Not saying that drama doesn’t happen at times, but its not due to the alcohol, for there is none. Can’t use that as an excuse! LOL!
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maybe it’s from people fighting over the last piece of shoofly pie…
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LOL!We do like our pies!
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who doesn’t?!
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I never drink at official functions, but family parties…. Alcohol is a necessity 😂😂
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sounds like a good compromise 🙂
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I haven’t been to a work party with booze since the early 90s… too much liability for the company!!
I haven’t spent a holiday with family/relatives in over 25yrs… one of the best decisions I ever made!!
I used to frequent a nightclub that peaked on Thu nights. Thanksgiving had the longest lines ever… friends escaping family to be together. Always a fun time!!
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I think many companies have cut back on such parties. and it does seem like Thanksgiving is a popular time for friends to get together…
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No matter what they (we) say, they (we) still do it!
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yes we do!
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I definitely drink more at gatherings. But I too am wishing to drink less. I don’t know where I belong anymore. But Merry Christmas in advance!
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my sense is that as we get older, many of us cut back on our drinking for health reasons. let the young kids like you cause all the shenanigans!
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Kinda sad and sobering. Please pass the Ritual Zero.
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cheers…
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🙂
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thanks, Sarah!
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So not surprised there’s one in every family. I sure had my share of some of those members, lol 🙂
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and sometimes more than one. and sometimes, I may have close to being that guy 🙂
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Lol, you don’t say? 🙂
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somebody had to step up! 🙂
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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