I think the writer's are writing Bobby and Sam as a little too damned naive in this instance

It is curious, in Sam's case, when compared to the situation with Jimmy and his family. I get that Dean is more capable of protecting his new family than Jimmy was. Where Sam was so violently adamant that the only way to protect Claire and Amelia was to never ever see them again, here he's like "okay." And, honestly, I think Sam was wrong in Jimmy's case. And there's definitely a different headspace between the two instances for Sam. Because, there or absent, the family will be in danger.

But I think where many hunters seem to have gotten into the life by having their family torn apart, I can also see that "hunter with family" might appear no more or less safe than "ignorant civilian with family".

Oh, and Demian at TWoP is cranky.

Man, that was the most loveless recaplet ever. He makes new cold!meanie!Sam look warm and toasty.

hard-boiled eggs: I think one of the things that really sells me on Sam not being Wrong or Evil or Not Sam is the look on his face when he rushes into the house as Dean is shouting frantically for Lisa and Ben. He's all over Concerned Puppy at the idea that Dean has lost his family.

In all the scenes of Dean's new family life, his drinking didn't strike me as anything out of the ordinary. Especially the nightcap before bed. He's self-medicating, sure, but we never see him passed out or stumbling. Functional alcoholic maybe, but the emphasis for me would be on "functional".

Are we misusing "functional alcoholic"? I had to go and google it, because my initial understanding was "drinking copiously but not showing the effects, except when not drinking enough". Having a nightcap every night seems to fit better with either alcoholic or just normal (in the sense that it's a habit, not an addiction, and not leading to organ failure).

I mispelled alcholic because I just finished a bottle of bourbon.

Shit, I mispelled it again!

Are we misusing "functional alcoholic"?

Which we?

I think I agree with Amy and I think it's an addiction that's not impairing his day-to-day routine, but he needs to drink to maintain it.

Me. Others. Again, my understanding is that a high level of alcohol needs to be consumed, but it doesn't affect oneself the way it does other people. and that a person is physically and mentally worse off without the alcohol. Which, in my mind, doesn't equate to one glass a night.

I think if you took the alcohol away, Dean could manage. He might not want to, but he's got enough of the soldier in him to do what needs to be done.

I just don't see it as a problem, I guess? But I also think I might know a lot of people who drink maybe too much, on a regular basis.

Which, in my mind, doesn't equate to one glass a night.

We have been shown him drinking at least one drink a night, after having been told he drank fifty drinks a week. I don't think it's out of line to assume that he may be drinking more, unless told differently.

I think if you took the alcohol away, Dean could manage

Do you think he could have managed prior to losing Sam?

Hard to say, ita. Probably not, in the lead-up to the Michael/Lucifer showdown.

I think with the life he's made, and the responsibilities he's chosen, if he was told he had to stop drinking, he could probably do it now. He just wouldn't want to.