Alcohol

Question

Hi. I was reading a short story about a couple who break up in a restaurant. The writer describes how the two walk into the restaurant, romantic. Then I see:
Suddenly, they started to argue with each other. It was getting ugly. Alcohol didn't help matters, either.

1. Why is there no "the" before "alcohol". Yes, no alcohol has been mentioned up to that point, but isn't it clear that if they are in a restaurant and fighting, they ordered alcohol? Or not?
2. Would "the" be correct as well? Would the reader understand that it was the alcohol that they consumed that the writer refers to?

Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

AndyOrban1. Why is there no "the" before "alcohol".

It is an uncountable material.

AndyOrban2. Would "the" be correct as well?

With no further context, it is odd because not previously mentioned.

Xerxes · Answer

AndyOrban1. Why is there no "the" before "alcohol". Yes, no alcohol has been mentioned up to that point, but isn't it clear that if they are in a restaurant and fighting, they ordered alcohol? Or not?

Or not. There is no reason to assume that, just because they walked into a restaurant and had an argument, they must have ordered booze. They might have walked into a bar for all it matters! If the writer has not mentioned their having ordered any alcoholic beverages to drink, "alcohol" (sans the definite article) is preferable: the noun is introduced for the first time.
(Note that there are some situations where the context really does make it clear, even if the noun hasn't been mentioned before. For example, suppose you say, "I didn't enjoy that party at all. The alcohol was awful". Here the context calls for the definite article, and there are no ambiguities. It's the alcohol you had at that party. But this is not the case with your original example).

AndyOrban2. Would "the" be correct as well? Would the reader understand that it was the alcohol that they consumed that the writer refers to?

It would be correct grammatically, but you are leaving room for ambiguity. The reader might find him/herself wondering whether previous reference to the alcohol has been made. Here is an example to clarify this:
I woke up today feeling groggy. I dressed up and walked to Starbucks. Unfortunately, the coffee didn't help.
Is the last sentence correct? Yes! But the reader might well ask, "Is it the coffee he ordered at Starbucks that he is referring to? Has he mentioned it before and did I miss it?" Of course, most readers will make the assumption that you have ordered coffee at Starbucks, but remember that clarity is the ultimate goal of good communication. Do not leave your audience guessing. So:
I woke up today feeling groggy. I dressed up and walked to Starbucks. Unfortunately, coffee didn't help.
I woke up today feeling groggy. I dressed up and walked to Starbucks. I ordered coffee. Unfortunately, the coffee didn't help.
I woke up today feeling groggy. I dressed up and walked to Starbucks. Unfortunately, the coffee I ordered there didn't help.

CalifJim · Answer

AndyOrban1. Why is there no "the" before "alcohol".

It's to suggest The fact that ( [some / any ] ) alcohol was involved didn't help matters, either.
This almost suggests as is usually the case with alcohol. The lack of "the" makes the statement seem to have an added, more general meaning.

AndyOrban2. Would "the" be correct as well? Would the reader understand that it was the alcohol that they consumed that the writer refers to?

"the" would also be correct, but it would be a more definite reference to the alcohol that they had consumed, with no hint about the effects of alcohol generally.
_____________

My interpretations may not be universally accepted.

CJ

Probus · Answer

To me, "the alcohol" sounds much more natural. It is what I would say every time. But it is not an important matter. Both are correct and both are commonly heard.

AndyOrban · Answer

Thank you to all of you for your detailed explanations. This is very helpful.
Have a nice day!

Anonymous · Answer

There are many situations where an article is used, or left out, and the situation doesn't seem to follow the rules of articles in grammar books. The fact is, that the handful of rules about articles in grammar books can cover only the most general situations, and there are many others that don't follow the rules, and have to be learned by experience.

The quoted text is correct. You might be thinking of the "once a noun is mentioned (or implied), the definite article is used with it thereafter" rule, but this rule has many exceptions that have to be leaned by experience. Here the article is left out - as it often is in similar situations - for reasons of rhythm and idiom. The rhythm of the passage is better without the article. And, this type of statement is almost idiomatic in English. For example:

"This was the seventh job he had been fired from, and once more, alcohol was the culprit." (Here alcohol might have never been mentioned previously, but what is more important is the almost idiomatic use "alcohol," similar to how it is used in the quoted passage: "Alcohol didn't help matters, either.")

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