January 2005

One of my favorite days is coming: Super Bowl Sunday. I love all the hype, the excitement, the commercials, yes, even the game itself. However, there is a very scary statistic attached to the Super Bowl that always makes me pause: there are more cases of domestic violence reported that day than any other day.

There are many things that lead to violence on Super Bowl Sunday. The first, and the most significant, is the prodigious amounts of alcohol consumed. When we drink alcohol, our inhibitions are loosened so we are more likely to do things that we would usually not do. So, if we are angry that our team is losing and we are drunk, we can become violent.

Studies have shown time and again if children watch a show with violence in it, they increase their own violence. If you are watching sports, and, let’s face it, sports are getting more violent every year; you are being exposed to a great deal of violence. Combine that with alcohol. This can become a lethal combination.

So, enjoy the game, but remember it is only a game. And limit your alcohol intake. Remember that you love the person you are with and you do not want to hurt them. Hopefully you will not need it, but just in case, here is the National Domestic Violence Hotline number: 800-799-SAFE (7233). Be safe.