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Vol. 73, No. 12, December 2000
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Inside the Bar
Nick Charles was a Drunk
No Laughing Matter
by George C. Brown,
State Bar executive director
I'M AN OLD MOVIE BUFF, PARTICULARLY of films from the late 1930s through the
1940s. Some of my favorites include "The Thin Man" series that starred
William Powell and Myrna Loy as reluctant detectives Nick and Nora Charles.
I particularly enjoy the swift, yet good-natured, sparring between Nick
and Nora and the always bumbling police detectives as they search for
the surprise murderer, all noir-ishly filmed in glorious black and white.
What I enjoy less and less is the drinking. In one memorable scene Nora bursts
into a fashionable bar after a day of Christmas shopping to find that
Nick is already six martinis ahead of her. She intends to catch up and
orders the bartender to line up six while Nick goes to work on his seventh.
The next morning she wakes up with a monstrous hangover. Not only does
Nick appear just fine, but after he finishes shooting glass ornaments
from the Christmas tree with his new pellet pistol, he starts mixing himself
another cocktail before breakfast. All of this is done with mirth and
good humor. But let's face it, Nick Charles was a drunk. What was funny
before is discomfiting now. We hold different societal expectations today
than we did 60 or even 20 years ago. Tougher laws against drunk driving,
greater recognition of the health hazards of over-drinking, and understanding
that alcoholism is both a symptom and a disease that can be treated, seriously
question the idea that alcoholism is mirthful and humorous. If Nick Charles
were a Wisconsin lawyer today, help would be just a phone call away. The
State Bar's Wisconsin Lawyer Assistance Program is designed to help the
Nick Charleses of our association. WisLAP works to address Wisconsin lawyers'
problems with alcohol, drugs, and stress. Two State Bar staff members
spend most of their time working with this program. Lea Landmann works
almost exclusively with lawyers suffering from alcoholism. Shell Goar,
who oversees the program, concentrates principally on stress and depression
issues, which, some argue, lead to the abuse of alcohol and drugs. Both
staff members work with numerous volunteer attorneys who freely give their
time and talents to help their colleagues in need. Many state bars offer
lawyer assistance programs to help attorneys overcome alcoholism, but
Wisconsin is relatively unique in providing help for the stress and depression
that can seem so overwhelming - especially during the holidays. If you
need help, or if you know a lawyer, whether friend, colleague, or partner,
who needs help, just call (800) 543-2625. Let us all have a truly happy
holiday season.
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