At the beginning of chapter 4, Katniss and Peeta are attempting to eat dinner after Haymitch has appeared, vomiting on the floor beside them and then falling face first into the bile. Peeta and Katniss take him back to his room, and Peeta takes him to the shower to attempt to clean him up a bit.

The experience has left Katniss feeling desperate and disgusted. Once inside the Games, they will need Haymitch in order to survive. He is their link to the outside world and the only hope they have of obtaining sponsorships that will bring them much-needed food and supplies when things get desperate.

Katniss assesses the truth in front of her, realizing that Haymitch is a drunk who is unlikely to be able to help them much, and she believes that he has failed many tributes who have come before her and Peeta. She recalls how she often sees Haymitch in the Hob, throwing money around to purchase liquor and staying drunk most of the time. Katniss realizes that they have had strong contenders who have entered the Games in the past, but Haymitch has failed them all. She realizes that the wealthy sponsors who could help the tributes inside the arena don't want to deal with someone like Haymitch, preferring to interact with people with more class than he exhibits.

As Haymitch is further characterized over the trilogy, it becomes clear that he has turned to alcohol in order to deal with the pain inherent in leading two of District 12's children to the Games annually and watching them die year after year. At this moment, however, Katniss only sees Haymitch as a hindrance to their potential success and is desperate for him to demonstrate the strength they will need to rely on in order to survive the Games.