To the Editor:

I was very glad to see the letter to the editor from Steve Browne in the Jan. 14 Northwest Herald about the Turning Point wine tasting. It gives me a chance to explain some misconceptions about domestic violence.

First and foremost, alcohol consumption does not cause domestic violence. Abusers make a choice to batter and often they blame that choice on outside influences, including (often) alcohol. But only the abuser is responsible for making that choice. Alcohol is no more responsible than the Bears playing poorly or a bad day at work, to name just two things that abusers often blame for their choice to batter.