Appendix 5 more articles to read and review

Use the guidelines in this chapter to write a one-paragraph summary of the following article. Note that the title is itself a very short summary of the article and that the six subheads are keys to the main supporting points in the article. You might begin your summary as follows: «In 'You Can Stop Family Fights—If You Know How' (Family Weekly, March 11, 1978), Shirley Sloan Fader describes six ways of stopping family fights. One way is to ...»

YOU CAN STOP FAMILY FIGHTS — IF YOU KNOW HOW

By Shirley Sloan Fader

In one way, family arguments are like babies: You have to grow up a little before you find out where they both come from. But though we all do solve the baby puzzle eventually, many of us regularly shout our way through unnecessary family squabbles and battles because we do not really understand where family arguments come from, how they begin and how they develop.

Where there are deep family disagreements, arguments may be inevitable. Much family ill feeling and bickering, however, are pointless. No real differences are involved, only ignorance of how other people's emotions work. These meaningless hassles, which often quickly degenerate into wounding, genuine fights, can be avoided.

It could happen like this: As they settle down in the evening to watch TV, a wife says to her husband, «The clothing store called. They have the snowsuit in Michael's size. Could you pick it up tomorrow? You drive right by the store on your way home».

Her husband's response astonishes her. «You think I've got nothing to do but run errands. I work during the day. If you didn't waste so much time on the phone, you'd have time to get the snowsuit yourself».

Hurt by his attack, the wife tries a combination of logic and striking back: «It'll only take you ten minutes. If you worked half as hard as I do, you'd find out what busy is. You'd probably earn a lot more money too!»

Or down the block a husband asks his wife, «Want to invite my brother's family for Thanksgiving dinner this year? We went there the last two years». He is met by a blast of anger and cold refusal. «You’re good at thinking up work for me, aren’t you? Why don’t you fix some of the things around here you never get to?» And off they go, too!

When something you say makes another person in your family angry, you can avoid a battle, states Dr. Jesse S. Nirenberg, a New York-based consulting industrial psychologist, who is a specialist in the skills of effective communicating. Dr. Nirenberg is the author of the best-selling book, Getting Through to People, and since 1957 he has conducted communication workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada.

***

Women’s drinking habits and a move toward more mid-week outings are driving up Britain’s spending on drinks in bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels, according to market researches.

The most radical change is the «feminization» of alcohol, the researches say. Women’s per-capita consumption of alcoholic drinks in Britain has increased by more than 25 per cent between 1998 and 2003, and is expected to rise by the same percentage again in the next five years.

British women aged between 18 and 24 drink more than women of that age in any other European country, with an average annual consumption of 203 litres each in 2003. German women of the same age were second, drinking 192 litres each year. Young Italian women drank 63 litres each a year.

Danielle Rebelo, of Datamonitor, a market research company, said yesterday that the feminisation of alcohol has had the single biggest impact on the on-trade – pubs and other establishments where drink is consumed on the premises – in the past 15 years and has affected male drinking habits.

The predicted rise in British women’s drinking would bring their consumption up to an average of 152 litres each for all age groups in 2008, she said.

Drinks designed and promoted to appeal to women have been introduced, and such traditional male drinks as beers and ales have been «feminised».

«New brands have a lower alcohol content and sweeter taste intended to appeal to women», Datamonitor said. The new feminine drinks include brands such as Archers Aqua and Baileys Glide. Among feminised beers, Young’s London brewery has introduced Acclaim, a refreshing beer with a subtle flavour of passion fruit to appeal to women’s sweeter tastes.

«Altering the format of male-orientated beverages, such as beer, through brand extensions can appeal to women whilst maintaining the masculine image for the original brand», Ms Rebelo said. Courage’s Kronenbourg Blanc, with hints of fruit, is designed to appeal to women and brings the Kronenbourg brand to the minds of women who can influence men.

It is believed that the rise of drinking has stimulated the diversification of drinking establishments such as restaurants, themed bars and Mediterranean style cafes.

The amount that British drinkers spend in pubs, bars and restaurants is predicted to rise from &26.7 billion in 2003 to &29.1 billion in 2008. France comes second to Britain with sales of &22 billion, while the Germans’ expenditure is only &18 billion.

Datamonitor said that the growth in spending was driven by women’s increased spending, the increase in midweek outings, and by «affluent mid-life singles with the time, money and desire to go out». Datamonitor believes that by 2008 the annual amount spent by the average British drinker in the on-trade will have risen to &625.

Midweek drinking in Europe is forecast to rise by 15 per cent over the next five years, because of consumers’ desire to enjoy their leisure, extend the weekend and avoid the crowds at peak times. The popularity of midweek outings will, however, lead to people consuming less alcohol and turning to lower quantities of premium beverages. The value of soft –drink sales as a percentage of the total sales in Britain’s bars and restaurants is expected to increase from just over 10 per cent in 2003 to almost 13 per cent in 2008.

«People are more likely to avoid alcohol due to work commitments. Rising concerns over health issues associated with alcohol consumption have added to the trend towards non-alcoholic beverages, too», Ms Rebelo said.

Datamonitor suggest that the recent trend towards non-alcoholic drinks in the on-trade presents a considerable opportunity for drinks companies.

Why do you drink after work?

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(«The Times», 24.09.2004)