Karen Kranbuehl: Alcohol not a great gift

Thanks for the Dec. 3 Life article “Hostess gift ideas that aren’t a bottle of wine.” As a person in long-term recovery, I would like to go a step further: Please do not give a gift of alcohol in any form to a person unless you know that all hosts and hostesses drink alcohol.

In November, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism released its updated finding that 23 million Americans have or have had an addiction. Many people unknowingly or forgetfully give gifts of alcohol to people who are in recovery from addiction or struggling to stop drinking. Many more people have health conditions or medications that require reduced or eliminated alcohol intake.

Though I’m sure the thought is appreciated, it is a gift that is either useless or even dangerous to the host or hostess. It can also feel very impersonal and isolating in a social situation.

A little crate of Clementine oranges is an example of a sweet, healthy, affordable and seasonal gift that everyone in the host or hostess’ home can safely share with gratitude.

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Karen Kranbuehl: Alcohol not a great gift."