Drinking alcohol is a regular part of life for many adults across the U.S. and around the world. Alcohol plays a large role in backyard barbecues, birthday celebrations, and numerous holidays. But the beverage isn’t solely confined to social gatherings. Drinking excess is rarely fun and could be an indication that one may have alcoholic tendencies.

Alcoholism is known in medical settings as alcohol use disorder (AUD). The condition affects some 15.1 million Americans adults, and it’s the third-leading cause of preventable death in the country, behind tobacco and sedentary lifestyles.

As AUD is both a physical and mental disorder that can wreak havoc on the lives of addicts and their loved ones alike, the condition is commonly featured in movie plots. After all, human suffering makes for a nuanced and often heartbreaking story, and Hollywood loves a meaty plot involving flawed characters. However, the on-screen stories of alcoholism aren’t always as true to life as they could be.

The Burden of Alcoholism

The tendency to imbibe in more than just a few drinks on a given day is one of the key indicators of alcoholism. The condition can be caused by both hereditary and environmental factors, but when we see alcoholics on screen, they are typically already in the throngs of addiction. In general, the root cause is not explored, or only mentioned in passing. For example, the 2009 drama Crazy Heart introduces main character Bad Blake, played by Jeff Bridges, only after his life and singing career are in the gutter thanks to his drinking problem.

Further, movies featuring alcoholic characters tend to focus on broken relationships and the despair many alcoholics feel rather than physical symptoms. The health implications of alcoholism can be severe. Along with the possibility of severe liver damage and impaired brain function, alcoholism can also cause mild health conditions such as varicose veins, as well as chronic illnesses including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

According to the Center for Vein Restoration, “While drinking isn’t a direct cause of varicose veins, it can contribute significantly to their development, greatly exacerbating symptoms and resulting in further damage.” That’s because heavy drinking negatively affects the circulatory system.

As for chronic conditions fueled by alcohol consumption, GERD is among the most common. Researchers have found alcohol, especially white wine and beer, induce acid reflux. The treatable condition is rarely part of the story of on-screen alcoholics, however, unlike nausea, vomiting, and hangovers.

Crazy Heart

The U.S. Binge-Drinking Culture

Speaking of hangovers, one of the most popular films in recent years that features drinking to excess is The Hangover (2009). The buddy comedy raked in $277 million globally and spawned two sequels. Unfortunately, binge drinking, blackouts, and a slew of unhealthy behaviors are at the crux of the movie.

What’s problematic about The Hangover and its sequels set in Las Vegas is that they treat binge drinking as a normal, everyday occurrence. The four main characters in the original film don’t seem to learn a lesson about the dangers of drinking to excess, even after getting shot at and causing ridiculous amounts of property damage. In fact, their booze-fueled debauchery serves as a vehicle for redemption: One character even finds the courage to leave his mentally abusive girlfriend after his blackout weekend in Vegas.

In reality, binge drinking is much more serious than Hollywood has led us to believe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that “Binge drinking is the most common, costly, and deadly pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States.” But on screen, binge drinking often seems like merely a fun thing to do with friends.

How Movies Can Portray AUD More Effectively

For many people, alcohol serves as a way to manage stress, anxiety, and mental disorders such as PTSD without having to visit a doctor. Alcohol is widely available and doesn’t require a prescription. But covering up mental symptoms with alcohol can lead to dependency and AUD, and there are much healthier ways to manage anxiety. For instance, yoga, regular exercise, and practicing mindfulness can help relieve stress.

But healthy behaviors aren’t usually part of an alcoholic’s lifestyle, in real life or in the movies. The dystopian Hunger Games trilogy’s Haymitch is a striking example of how people turn to alcohol to try and cope with life after trauma. Haymitch is a mentor to the protagonist and has severe PTSD due to his experiences in the arena, where children kill other children until only one survivor remains.

Haymitch is often seen in a drunken stupor, even occasionally drinking medical alcohol to get his fix. To her credit, Katniss does her best to keep Haymitch from drinking, even pouring his alcohol out when necessary. While her efforts are typically fruitless, they illustrate the importance of support from friends and family in the AUD recovery process.

Final Thoughts

Alcoholism and binge drinking are common social issues with many implications. And while the struggles of an alcoholic may make for a rich story, Hollywood could do a better job when it comes to on-screen depictions of AUD. By giving background to the underlying causes of a character’s alcoholism, and perhaps allowing on-screen binge drinkers to atone for their problematic behavior, movies about alcoholism could be more realistic.