Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Caron's Public Policy Advocate, shares his thoughts on Caron's holiday drinking study:

"Is that guy with the lampshade on his head an alcoholic or just obnoxious?"

We've all experienced a version of the person at the holiday party with the lampshade on his head. It's not pretty and if you have the misfortune  of standing too close, it can be annoying.

But does it mean he has a drinking problem?

A recent study commissioned by Caron entitled "Party Drinking or Drinking Problem?" explores the culture surrounding holiday celebrations, our attitudes about excessive drinking at parties and how comfortable we feel addressing substance abuse at home and in the office. Sometimes it's difficult to tell when  someone is abusing alcohol because "social drinking is so interwoven into the fabric of American society that many people fail to recognize it may be the sign of a chronic illness," as Dr. Harris Stratyner of Caron points out.

The survey was based on a nationwide Harris Interactive poll and examines the "not-so-merry" aspects of workplace and family holiday parties, offering insights and tools for empowerment. One of the most interesting findings was the differing perceptions of what  constitutes problem drinking  in workplace and family environments and the action people would take to confront  unruly behavior.

The poll found that 54% of respondents who observed a family member drinking what they considered an inappropriate amount of alcohol during the holiday season believed   the individual might have a drinking problem. However, at a workplace holiday party, only 34% made the same observation that their co-workers' inappropriate level of drinking might indicate a drinking problem.

The survey clarified  people's desire  to help, but their willingness to take action also depended upon  their environment and circumstances. Seventy percent of those who observed a co-worker drinking more than they thought appropriate agreed that it was their responsibility to help and said they would take action.  However, only 39%of those who have observed a family member drinking more than they thought was appropriate during the holiday season felt  they would take action.

Maybe a future study will explore why we are  more willing to confront substance abuse at work than at home...