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Emmerdale: By soap standards is Laurel an alcoholic?


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Old 10-03-2015, 13:59
Mark_Washingto1
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We are supposed to believe that Laurel has an alcohol problem however I don't think she drinks much more than other soap characters. Moira was drunk in the pub a month or so ago, Adam went around for days drunk when he found out James was his dad and even showed up to work drunk which lead to Andy's accident, but no one accused him of being an alcoholic. Unless Laurel starts acting like Sue Ellen on Dallas or Peter on Coronation Street I really don't see her as an alcoholic.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:01
kwynne42
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We are supposed to believe that Laurel has an alcohol problem however I don't think she drinks much more than other soap characters. Moira was drunk in the pub a month or so ago, Adam went around for days drunk when he found out James was his dad and even showed up to work drunk which lead to Andy's accident, but no one accused him of being an alcoholic. Unless Laurel starts acting like Sue Ellen on Dallas or Peter on Coronation Street I really don't see her as an alcoholic.
She's drinking Vodka from the bottle and hiding it every episode so i'd say yes.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:04
wavlovr
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Hiding a vodka bottle inside a washing machine makes me suspect that Laurel is well on the way to being an alcoholic....if she isn`t one already.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:07
Mark_Washingto1
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She's drinking Vodka from the bottle and hiding it every episode so i'd say yes.
Its a sign that she's ashamed, not necessarily that she's an alcoholic. She's had 2 drunken incidents this year....the same can be said for most of the other characters on Emmerdale.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:08
Justabloke
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its not the quantity perse that defines dependency but behaviour.... she drinks *all* the time.. she's hiding bottles in various places... she's drinking voddie ... the fave of your average alcoholic because it's virtually odourless.... she has violent mood swings... using orange juice to "mix".... so that she can drink it openly without being questioned.

I'm not sure what else they could do to indicate her dependency.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:08
craig_25
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Laurel is dependent on alcohol to get her through the day. She's definitely on her way to being an alcoholic, I hope she goes the whole hog. I'm loving piss head Laurel's outbursts!

I'd say Doug had it right when he asked her 'do you have an alcohol problem?' or it would be best to define it as 'alcohol dependent' rather than a full blown alcoholic. Though that said, Wiki says the following:

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder, is a broad term for problems alcohol, and generally refers to alcohol addiction, which is the compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing.

The latter part definitely applies to Laurel's current situation.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:09
Justabloke
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Its a sign that she's ashamed, not necessarily that she's an alcoholic. She's had 2 drunken incidents this year....the same can be said for most of the other characters on Emmerdale.
I dunno if you're playing devil's advocate or are being exceptionally naive but loopy is a lush. 100% certified. bottle hiding lush.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:12
Oldnjaded
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its not the quantity perse that defines dependency but behaviour.... she drinks *all* the time.. she's hiding bottles in various places... she's drinking voddie ... the fave of your average alcoholic because it's virtually odourless.... she has violent mood swings...

I'm not sure what else they could do to indicate her dependency.
Exactly. The world is full of high-functioning alcohol dependents. Binge drinking is not generally the same as alcoholism.

And the way she manipulated little April and very nastily attacked Doug, her father, last night made it all too clear that she has become a stereotypical 'alcoholic in denial'. All very realistic at the moment imo.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:13
Mark_Washingto1
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I dunno if you're playing devil's advocate or are being exceptionally naive but loopy is a lush. 100% certified. bottle hiding lush.
IRL yes she would be considered an alcoholic but when most of the characters on soaps spend their days in the pub drinking, have several drunken incidents, I mentioned Adam as an example, he went around for weeks drinking, causing accidents, stealing and tried to kiss his BFF's mom. Or look at Carla on Coronation Street, to me she is more of an alcoholic than Laurel but no one questions her drinking habits.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:14
Oldnjaded
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Its a sign that she's ashamed, not necessarily that she's an alcoholic. She's had 2 drunken incidents this year....the same can be said for most of the other characters on Emmerdale.
I suspect you must be well aware that many many alcoholics never actually fall about drunk. They just quietly keep 'topping up' their levels sufficiently to enable them to live apparently normal lives at work and at home.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:22
Orchideam
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Alcoholics seldom show signs of being drunk. They have a dependency on it, hide the fact and the booze anywhere they can and lie very plausibly.

She is an alcoholic, you probably think Peter (CS) is the benchmark for them all, he wasn't. Some do end up totally bladdered, others are just sneakier and conceal the fact by drinking little and often - so few effects show. They are the more danagerous, with a Peter type you know what they are doing, with a Laurel type, you don't.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:25
Mark_Washingto1
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Alcoholics seldom show signs of being drunk. They have a dependency on it, hide the fact and the booze anywhere they can and lie very plausibly.

She is an alcoholic, you probably think Peter (CS) is the benchmark for them all, he wasn't. Some do end up totally bladdered, others are just sneakier and conceal the fact by drinking little and often - so few effects show. They are the more danagerous, with a Peter type you know what they are doing, with a Laurel type, you don't.
Right I get that but I said by SOAP STANDARDS, which she doesn't compare at all, Peter on Coronation Street, Sue Ellen on Dallas, Gary on Knots Landing, Lucas on Days of Our Lives were all drunken messes in their day and Laurel pales in comparison to them, I guess maybe they are trying to do a more realistic approach than what soaps normally do with an alcoholic story.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:31
craig_25
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Right I get that but I said by SOAP STANDARDS, which she doesn't compare at all, Peter on Coronation Street, Sue Ellen on Dallas, Gary on Knots Landing, Lucas on Days of Our Lives were all drunken messes in their day and Laurel pales in comparison to them, I guess maybe they are trying to do a more realistic approach than what soaps normally do with an alcoholic story.
Ok well now I get your point. Yes, usually in soap we see them 'bladdered'. With Laurel, we are seeing a more realistic portrayal of someone being dependent on alcohol and heading deeper and deeper down that path of alcoholism.

Doug has noticed quite early on and may now monitor her before it gets to the 'pissed in public' stage. But I don't hold out much hope....I'd quite like to see Laurel as an absolute Lush, giving Marlon holy hell!
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:32
Orchideam
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Right I get that but I said by SOAP STANDARDS, which she doesn't compare at all, Peter on Coronation Street, Sue Ellen on Dallas, Gary on Knots Landing, Lucas on Days of Our Lives were all drunken messes in their day and Laurel pales in comparison to them, I guess maybe they are trying to do a more realistic approach than what soaps normally do with an alcoholic story.
I get what you mean, but, no one becomes an alcoholic overnight, it's a build up over time, and all your examples were long time addicts already. People knew what they were and adjusted for that - ie: not leaving kids in their care or any other responsible situations. Laurel is setting off on this road, no one (except maybe her Dad) has an inkling of how bad she really is, therefore, she's dangerous and deceitful atm - a ticking time bomb. It's all realistic, and could be an interesting sl .
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:39
little-monster
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She's gone from casually drinking, to being dependant and now to be an alcoholic. I think the way they have done it is rather good. It's not like Laurel just started drinking heavily. It's been very gradual. I am glad they chose this particular character and actress to do it, as she will rock it.
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Old 10-03-2015, 14:47
craig_25
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I get what you mean, but, no one becomes an alcoholic overnight, it's a build up over time, and all your examples were long time addicts already. People knew what they were and adjusted for that - ie: not leaving kids in their care or any other responsible situations. Laurel is setting off on this road, no one (except maybe her Dad) has an inkling of how bad she really is, therefore, she's dangerous and deceitful atm - a ticking time bomb. It's all realistic, and could be an interesting sl .
As much as I adore little April, I think we’re about to see her come to harm whilst under Laurel’s inept supervision, leading to her issues being exposed......as well as giving shouty Marlon more excuses to treat her like shit, and wave his arms about *yawn*

That said, if it leads to the demise of Maurel, long may her descent into alcoholism continue!
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Old 10-03-2015, 15:48
Mark_Washingto1
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I get what you mean, but, no one becomes an alcoholic overnight, it's a build up over time, and all your examples were long time addicts already. People knew what they were and adjusted for that - ie: not leaving kids in their care or any other responsible situations. Laurel is setting off on this road, no one (except maybe her Dad) has an inkling of how bad she really is, therefore, she's dangerous and deceitful atm - a ticking time bomb. It's all realistic, and could be an interesting sl .
Lucas wasn't an alcoholic already if remember correctly, he didn't start drinking till after him and Kate framed Sami for Franco's murder and then Nicole started purposely driving Lucas to drink even more...but I don't think it was a slow build story at all.
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Old 10-03-2015, 15:49
Justabloke
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IRL yes she would be considered an alcoholic but when most of the characters on soaps spend their days in the pub drinking, have several drunken incidents, I mentioned Adam as an example, he went around for weeks drinking, causing accidents, stealing and tried to kiss his BFF's mom. Or look at Carla on Coronation Street, to me she is more of an alcoholic than Laurel but no one questions her drinking habits.
OnJ has already indirectly responded to this.. people with an alcohol dependency are rarely seen to be falling down drunk. Binge drinking is an entirely different issue. Adam was binge drinking... you also need to be aware of the passage of time in a soap.. they frequently start early in the "day" and end "later that same day or even the following day" you can't draw any parallels with real life from them. I don't watch corrie so I can't comment... people seen to be rolling/ falling down drunk are rarely if ever alcohol dependent
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Old 10-03-2015, 15:53
Justabloke
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Right I get that but I said by SOAP STANDARDS, which she doesn't compare at all, Peter on Coronation Street, Sue Ellen on Dallas, Gary on Knots Landing, Lucas on Days of Our Lives were all drunken messes in their day and Laurel pales in comparison to them, I guess maybe they are trying to do a more realistic approach than what soaps normally do with an alcoholic story.
The others you have described were all using a visual cue to identify the issue... with loopy I think they've been quite clever, its a much more realistic portrayal
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Old 10-03-2015, 15:58
Chiltons Cane
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She is hardly Peter Barlow is she!
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Old 10-03-2015, 16:05
Mark_Washingto1
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The others you have described were all using a visual cue to identify the issue... with loopy I think they've been quite clever, its a much more realistic portrayal
Yes with Laurel its more behind closed doors and subdued than how soaps usually portray alcholoics
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Old 10-03-2015, 16:07
Justabloke
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Yes with Laurel its more behind closed doors and subdued than how soaps usually portray alcholoics
I think its because most people have no experience of an alcoholic dependent and assume they are rolling round drunk all the time... soaps don't generally have time to be subtle and so we see character x with a glass / slurred speech every episode.
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Old 10-03-2015, 16:08
craig_25
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She is hardly Peter Barlow is she!
Laurel is a very different type of drinker to Peter though. She uses the alcohol to dull certain feelings and it gives her a feeling of self control. Peter didn’t set out to just dull his feelings...he went all out to obliterate them, thereby getting paralytic drunk to the point where it was obvious to everyone.

Laurel is alcohol dependant, she cannot get through the day without topping herself up, and she panics when she does not have easy access to a regular supply. She is therefore, and alcoholic.

It’s a very realistic and understanding descent into a terrible addiction. Hats off to Charlotte Bellamy, she’s doing a cracking job.
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Old 10-03-2015, 16:13
Justabloke
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Laurel is a very different type of drinker to Peter though. She uses the alcohol to dull certain feelings and it gives her a feeling of self control. Peter didn’t set out to just dull his feelings...he went all out to obliterate them, thereby getting paralytic drunk to the point where it was obvious to everyone.

Laurel is alcohol dependant, she cannot get through the day without topping herself up, and she panics when she does not have easy access to a regular supply. She is therefore, and alcoholic.

It’s a very realistic and understanding descent in a terrible addiction. Hats off to Charlotte Bellamy, she’s doing a cracking job.
Unless .....
being forced to spend that much time with Mr Tickle has turned her to the demon drink and what we're seeing is not the character but THE ACTUAL ACTRESS descending into addiction

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Old 10-03-2015, 16:30
craig_25
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Unless .....
being forced to spend that much time with Mr Tickle has turned her to the demon drink and what we're seeing is not the character but THE ACTUAL ACTRESS descending into addiction

Great point! Given that Mark Charnock is basically just playing himself as Marlon, this would not be too hard to imagine being the case!! It's not Laurel who's the lush, it's Charlotte Bellamy!!!!!!!!!!
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