Man Bans Alcohol After Sister Calls Wife Fat

Finding the right balance between family traditions and avoiding uncomfortable situations can be challenging at the best of times. But is drinking excessively at Christmas really a ‘tradition’ worth keeping? One man writes on Reddit about his attempts to ban alcohol from his family’s Christmas dinner.

Our family has always celebrated Christmas with enthusiasm. We gather at one my (34M) siblings' houses, exchange gifts, and enjoy a festive meal. Over the years, the celebration has evolved, and one common element has been the presence of alcohol. Wine, cocktails, and spirits were always part of the holiday festivities.

However, last year, something happened that left a lasting impact. My younger sister, Emily (30F), got quite drunk during Christmas dinner. She stumbled, slurred her words, said some unsavoury remarks to my wife about her weight, and eventually broke down, making everyone uncomfortable. It was embarrassing for her, my wife was upset and it put a damper on the entire evening.

Some people say “My house, my rules?” but family is different, isn’t it?

This year it is my my turn (along with my wife) to host Christmas, but following last year's incident, I've been wrestling with the idea of banning alcohol from our Christmas celebration. I want to avoid any potential repeat of the awkwardness we experienced. 

I approached my parents and siblings about this, explaining that I believed it would be best for our family gathering.

Needless to say, my suggestion didn't sit well with everyone.  Whilst my older brother Rick (37M) wasn't too fussed as he was going to be driving, and would leave early anyway to get to his in-laws, the rest of the family scoffed at the idea.

My parents argued that it's a long-standing tradition and most adults can drink responsibly. They believe we should handle Emily's situation separately, not by banning alcohol altogether.

My younger brother Ron (28M) said he was going to bring his own drinks anyway and didn't care who else was drinking or not.

And then there’s the younger sister …

Meanwhile Emily felt singled out and blamed for something that happened in the past. She's genuinely sorry for her behavior last year but believes I'm making her the scapegoat for this decision. So AITA for wanting to ban alcohol from our Christmas celebration? 

Redditors responded with their own tales of drunken behaviour at Christmas

u/RealityCheck99 My uncles used to all get so drunk every Christmas and then it would inevitably end up in fights - fists and all. And then there were the injuries as the old men used to 'test out' our presents like skateboards and bikes and invariably crash in their drunken haze. Nope. NTA. 

u/WisdomSeeker12 NTA Getting into the spirit of Christmas is not opening another bottle of Bourbon as my Dad used to do.  He'd just quietly drink himself into a stupour and fall asleep on the couch whilst our Mom cleaned up around him.

But then there were others who thought the OP had this all wrong.

u/hungrywizard347 ESH If anyone called my wife fat they'd be out the door, drunk or not. The issue is with your sister. Ban her, not alcohol - or at least apply the drinking ban to her only. I'd be pissed if I couldn't have a few glasses of wine and a whisky or two at Christmas because of someone else's behaviour. 

What do you think?