I know this is probably a common topic. For me, I’m not sure if it’s a “trope” or just totally misinformed writing, but it’s how many authors approach alcoholism. Some examples are Girl on the Train and The House Across the Lake, among HUNDREDS. If anyone else here has struggled with alcoholism, you know it’s not just "i woke up after downing an entire bottle of whiskey but was able to shower, down a cup of coffee, and solve a murder. "
Kids being smarter than adults. I remember one old French YA novel from the 1950s that got it right: The children were stuck with a medieval inscription on a stone plate none of them could interpret. And they did what any reasonable children would do: Next time, they brought the Latin teacher from their school.