Brett Kavanaugh's Beer Choice: What's His Favorite Brew?

During his Supreme Court nomination hearing, Brett Kavanaugh's drinking habits became a central theme. In his testimony, Kavanaugh stated that he liked beer and still likes beer, but denied drinking to the point of blacking out. This statement prompted scrutiny and criticism, with some questioning whether he was fully forthcoming about his drinking history and behaviour when intoxicated. Kavanaugh's comments on alcohol sparked protests and satirical sketches, with the phrase I like beer being chanted and displayed on signs. The focus on beer during the hearing raised concerns about truthfulness, memory, and behaviour, especially in relation to the sexual assault allegations against him.

Brett Kavanaugh's drinking habits during his hearing

During his hearing, Brett Kavanaugh's drinking habits became a central theme, with the judge making numerous references to his consumption of beer. In his testimony, Kavanaugh stated, "I drank beer with my friends. Almost everyone did. Sometimes I had too many beers. Sometimes others did. I liked beer. I still like beer." He also denied drinking to the point of blacking out and refuted allegations of sexual assault.

Kavanaugh's statements about his drinking sparked intense scrutiny and debate. He was questioned about specific incidents and his truthfulness was called into doubt by some of his classmates and acquaintances. For instance, Chad Ludington, a Yale classmate, claimed that Kavanaugh was "often belligerent and aggressive" when drunk and recounted an incident where Kavanaugh threw beer in someone's face, starting a fight. Another Yale friend, Liz Swisher, described him as "slurring his words, stumbling... there's no medical way I can say that he was blacked out... But it's not credible for him to say that he has had no memory lapses."

In response to inquiries about his drinking habits, Kavanaugh often deflected or gave vague answers. When asked what constituted "too many beers," he replied, "I don't know. Whatever the chart says. Blood alcohol chart." He also evaded questions about whether he had ever passed out from drinking, stating that he had "gone to sleep" but never "blacked out." Additionally, when pressed about references to the ralph club in his yearbook and whether it was related to vomiting from drinking, he deflected and turned the question back on the senator, asking, "Do you like beer, Senator, or no? What do you like to drink?"

Kavanaugh's drinking habits and truthfulness during the hearing became a contentious issue, with some arguing that he had not been fully forthcoming about the extent of his alcohol consumption. His statements and behaviour related to alcohol consumption sparked protests and further scrutiny, with some questioning his fitness for office.

The controversy surrounding beer and Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court

The controversy surrounding beer and Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court stems from concerns about his honesty regarding his drinking habits and the potential impact of alcohol on his behaviour and memory. During his testimony, Kavanaugh stated that he liked beer and occasionally had too many drinks, but denied drinking to the point of blacking out or committing sexual assault. However, some of his acquaintances, including former roommates and classmates, contradicted his statements, alleging that he drank heavily and became aggressive when intoxicated. The controversy led to protests and public debates about Kavanaugh's suitability for the Supreme Court position.

During his testimony, Kavanaugh stated, "I drank beer with my friends. Almost everyone did. Sometimes I had too many beers. Sometimes others did. I liked beer. I still like beer." He denied drinking to the point of blacking out and refuted allegations of sexual assault. However, some of his former roommates and classmates disputed his characterisation of his drinking habits, claiming that he drank heavily and frequently.

One of Kavanaugh's freshman roommates at Yale, James Roche, wrote an op-ed in Slate, accusing Kavanaugh of lying about his drinking habits. Roche described Kavanaugh as a "notably heavy drinker" who became "aggressive and belligerent when he was very drunk". Another Yale classmate, Chad Ludington, recounted an incident where Kavanaugh threw his beer in someone's face during a social gathering, leading to a fight that landed one of their mutual friends in jail.

The controversy surrounding Kavanaugh's drinking habits sparked protests and public debates. Anti-Kavanaugh protesters gathered outside Mitch McConnell's house, drinking beer and chanting "I like beer," mocking Kavanaugh's repeated statement during his testimony. The protesters aimed to highlight the discrepancies between Kavanaugh's statements and the accounts provided by his acquaintances.

The controversy also raised questions about Kavanaugh's truthfulness and suitability for the Supreme Court position. Some argued that his drinking habits and potential dishonesty disqualified him from holding any office that requires probity and evenhandedness. Despite the concerns, Kavanaugh's confirmation process moved forward, with the Senate's Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, facing criticism for his support.

Kavanaugh's drinking references in his yearbook

During his Supreme Court nomination hearing, Brett Kavanaugh made several references to his drinking habits in his yearbook. When questioned about his drinking behaviour, Kavanaugh responded with statements such as, "I drank beer with my friends. Almost everyone did. Sometimes I had too many beers. Sometimes others did. I liked beer. I still like beer." He also stated that he never drank to the point of blacking out and that he never sexually assaulted anyone.

Kavanaugh's drinking habits became a central theme of the hearing, with Democratic senators pressing for more details about his alcohol consumption. One specific reference in his yearbook to the "ralph club" sparked questions about whether it was related to vomiting from drinking too much. In response, Kavanaugh deflected the question and instead recited his academic and athletic credentials.

Kavanaugh's statements about his drinking have been contradicted by several of his classmates and roommates from Yale, who have described him as a notably heavy drinker who became aggressive and belligerent when he was very drunk. One classmate, Chad Ludington, recalled an incident where Kavanaugh threw his beer in someone's face and started a fight that resulted in one of their mutual friends being jailed.

The focus on Kavanaugh's drinking behaviour during the hearing was not only about his truthfulness but also because alcohol can affect behaviour and memory. Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, alleged that he was stumbling drunk during the assault, which he strongly denied.

The controversy surrounding Kavanaugh's drinking references in his yearbook and the subsequent testimonies from his acquaintances raised questions about his suitability for the Supreme Court nomination, with some arguing that he was not fully forthcoming about his drinking habits during his youth.

Kavanaugh's belligerent and aggressive behaviour when drunk

During his Senate Judiciary Committee testimony, Brett Kavanaugh denied ever having blacked out from drinking too much. However, some of his former acquaintances, including his freshman roommate at Yale, James Roche, have contradicted this statement, asserting that Kavanaugh was a heavy drinker and that his behaviour when drunk was notably aggressive and belligerent.

Chad Ludington, a Yale classmate who frequently socialised with Kavanaugh, supported Roche's claims. Ludington accused Kavanaugh of being untruthful about his drinking habits and stated that he had often seen him "staggering from alcohol consumption." He recalled that Kavanaugh had become "belligerent and aggressive" while intoxicated, and that he had played down "the degree and frequency" of his drinking.

In an op-ed for Slate, Roche wrote:

> "There were people who were loud drunks, who were sloppy drunks, who were belligerent drunks. But even by those standards, my memory of Brett was that he was on the far edge of this. He was notably heavier in his drinking than other people."

Professor Christine Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, also asserted that he had sexually assaulted her at a party in a fit of drunken violence. This accusation seemed convincing to some, despite the judge's description of his lifetime of public service, church-going, and respect for women.

In response to these accusations, some of Kavanaugh's supporters expressed disbelief, stating that they had seen him drink wine and beer without becoming aggressive. However, experts on alcoholism suggest that it would take a significant amount of alcohol for one's personality to be altered, and that the personality may not be altered but rather, inhibitions are lowered, allowing unconscious drives and feelings to come to the surface.

In light of the contradictory reports and recollections concerning Kavanaugh's behaviour, it is important to consider the effects of alcohol on memory and behaviour. Alcohol can bring out the worst in people, and it is possible that Kavanaugh truly does not believe he could have acted out sexually when drunk, as heavy dosages of alcohol can impair memory and behaviour.

Kavanaugh's denial of sexual assault allegations

In 2018, Brett Kavanaugh was nominated by President Donald Trump for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. During his confirmation process, multiple women accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault.

Psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her while they were both in high school in 1982. Deborah Ramirez accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault in 1983, when they were both freshmen at Yale University. A third allegation was made by Julie Swetnick, who claimed that Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge tried to get teenage girls "inebriated and disoriented so they could then be gang-raped".

Kavanaugh denied all the allegations, stating that he had "never done anything like what the accuser describes – to her or to anyone". He called the confirmation process a "national disgrace" and said that it had "ruined [his] good name".

In response to the allegations, the FBI conducted a supplemental investigation into the accusations. However, this investigation was heavily constrained by the Trump White House, which restricted the number of people the FBI could interview. Despite this, the Senate voted 50-48 to confirm Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court.

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