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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How much does your tradesman partner drink on an evening?

41 replies

2ddandabump · 31/03/2021 20:48

How much is too much?

My partner is a self employed tradesman, like many of his friends, when the pubs were open, he used to bob into the pub on the way home for a pint or 2 before coming home. I say tradesmen, because that's who the pub was filled with, not blue collar workers (at our particular local anyway) they are all self employed roofers, joiners, brickies etc. Ever since the pubs closed my partner more often than not comes home every night with a 4 pack of larger, often the pint sized ones. He`ll drink 3 and often 4 each night. Apart from the cost and obvious health risks associated with drinking every day, I think this is excessive. He says it's no different from his friends who do a hard day's manual graft and fancy a drink on an evening. AIBU is this a lot? For info we have 2 older children (from my first marriage) and a ds age 15m together.

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GasPanic · 24/01/2025 13:57

4 cans of lager is a fair amount but not outrageous.

Really depends on what kind of lager as well. Some lagers can be 50% stronger than others, so 4 cans of a stronger lager can be equal to 6 cans of a weaker one.

I suppose the problem is what happens on the weekend, where people tend to drink more. If you are drinking 4 cans a day in the week add the weekend extra and it becomes quite a lot.

I don't think drinking 4 cans a night of weak lager is going to put you into alcoholic territory, but it is at the point where it could start to spiral out of control quite easily and 30 years of doing it is going to have health consequences.

Bear91 · 24/01/2025 13:49

2ddandabump · 31/03/2021 22:08

@nimbuscloud

It is excessive. He is well above the weekly recommended levels. How do your evenings look? Does he do his share with the toddler?
He does help yes and no. He's best when he comes in and I feel deteriorates the more he drinks, say if he has 3 beers before we've eaten tea. I guess I feel irritated that he's falling asleep around 8:30/9pm on the sofa, possibly due to drinking, possibly due to doing a physically demanding job? Whilst I'm still sorting out the older ones (12&10) who go to bed later, doing lunches, packing nursery bags etc... I'm knackered as well and would love to fall asleep on the sofa!

I completely relate with you this is the same for me :(

RealisticSketch · 01/04/2021 07:34

@UhtredRagnarson

.
Well well, I stand corrected, thanks. I've been labouring under an illusion for years! Grin
ButIcantsitonleather · 31/03/2021 23:18

He will have a beer first thing on a weekend morning, claiming its OK because its the weekend!! He doesn't eat breakfast so it's often the first thing he has

This changes everything. This to me, crosses over from ‘likes a drink and drinks a bit too much’, to alcohol dependent.

Chanjer · 31/03/2021 22:51

Depends what you're drinking, although that many isn't ideal anyway really

4 X fosters and 4 X supers is a very different experience, amount of alcohol and health impact

B33Fr33 · 31/03/2021 22:51

As a comparison my husband works a physical job involving lots of walking with heavy gear, lifting etc. He's over 40, overweight but doesn't drink much at all (in his line of work random breath and drugs tests happen there are rules of zero tolerance to alcohol on shift). He doesn't fall asleep so early. He gets up for work around 5. He gets to sleep around 10, 9.30 if he's had a harder day of the work. Considering my husband isn't probably the healthiest, your husband seems to be falli g asleep quite early if it's not weight/ age/ level of fitness it could easily be the drink.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 31/03/2021 22:47

My exh is a tradesman, and also a heavy drinker, and also would say it was normal, because it is the norm in his circle. It’s not healthy, and it’s really not good for your older dc to see. And the trouble is four cans stops being enough, and then it’s five and then six, and there’s the cost.. to finances, to health, and to relationships.

UhtredRagnarson · 31/03/2021 22:43

.

How much does your tradesman partner drink on an evening?
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 31/03/2021 22:43

I think the drinking first thing on the weekend is even more worrying tbh. Sounds like he’s very dependent on it.

UhtredRagnarson · 31/03/2021 22:42

@RealisticSketch

No, they are manual workers, blue collar workers are administrative roles that don't require qualifications, as iodised to professionals who are white collar workers. Terms rooted in outdated social conventions.
No
RealisticSketch · 31/03/2021 22:42

No, they are manual workers, blue collar workers are administrative roles that don't require qualifications, as iodised to professionals who are white collar workers. Terms rooted in outdated social conventions.

UhtredRagnarson · 31/03/2021 22:38

I say tradesmen, because that's who the pub was filled with, not blue collar workers

Those are all blue collar workers.

You’re partners drinking would be a real turn off for me.

My dad was a joiner and didn’t drink anything during the week. Would have wine with dinner on a Sunday and would only drink otherwise on social occasions if he went out.

BoJoHoNo · 31/03/2021 22:30

Doesn't sound great that he's having a beer for breakfast on a weekend. That must be really annoying for you as I imagine you never really get a break from dealing with the house and children.

sabrinathemiddleagewitch · 31/03/2021 22:30

I understand why you've mentioned his job, because if he discussed this at work it would be seen as acceptable.

But to me it isn't, drinking everyday is not healthy. Drinking 28 pints a week, is excessive for your health and finances? That must be costly him £40 a week.....on beer? And that's not including if he drinks more at the weekends?

Health wise, that's a lot of calories and strain on his body. There is a reason manual workers are twice as likely to die under 65 than office workers, yes it's due to demanding physical jobs but it's the drinking and smoking too.

OP I would say, as a compromise. No drinking mon-thurs. that's not unreasonable and see if he wants some help with it?
Get plenty of cans of Diet Coke or whatever soft drink he likes.
Sometimes it's the act of a opening a cold can to relax and the routine of it he needs to get out of it.

Scbchl · 31/03/2021 22:25

We only ever drink one night of the weekend. I know my brother in law drinks quite a few maybe four nights a week. My brothers about the same..both tradesmen also.

2ddandabump · 31/03/2021 22:22

@Hotcuppatea that's a fair point about wine drinking.

I don't drink wine anymore, not for the past 7 years or so, I'm a gin drinker, but more on a Friday and weekends or out with the girls. The toddler sleeps OK ish, but I'm so tired with working and house stuff that I need to feel fresh the next morning, and do don't join him in a drink.

He doesn't drink hot drinks, so when I crave a cuppa, he has a beer.

@SaveWaterDrinkGin I agree that it isn't necessarily job related, I think he uses that as an excuse.

My dad had a manual job and has the odd beer on a weekend, and now doesn't drink..

He will have a beer first thing on a weekend morning, claiming its OK because its the weekend!! He doesn't eat breakfast so it's often the first thing he has.

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 31/03/2021 22:19

I don’t really think his job is relevant as it doesn’t affect the level at which drinking becomes harmful. Which is the worry, rather than “do other people in the same job do it?”. That doesn’t really matter as they could all be problem drinkers.

However, Jm torn because it does actually make a post easier to read when the Op adds some detail, rather than just saying “job” or “hobby” as if it’s terribly outing.

candlemasbells · 31/03/2021 22:16

When I met DP he was at least 4 pints and night, maybe 10 once a week and only then was slightly merry. I don’t drink, I prefer chocolate. He now drinks two small bottle of beer a night max.
It is tradesman in the pub thing as they network there.

nimbuscloud · 31/03/2021 22:13

It’s not good for the older children to be seeing this.
I guess you have decisions to make. Will he listen to your concerns?

AlandAnna · 31/03/2021 22:13

It’s too much but it’s for him to realise sadly. Trouble is, one minute you’re drinking that much no problem, the next you are vomiting blood in A&E with a ruptured ulcer with no idea why 🤷‍♀️

2ddandabump · 31/03/2021 22:10

@SnarkyBag

DH used to be similar and I always found it excessive and believe it impacted his overall mood a lot. I don’t drink either so was always hard to gauge what is normal/healthy but I was never comfortable with the amount. He gave up completely last year
I feel it impacts in his mood also, he becomes dopey and sleepy and grumpier, although he would claim that is just not true.
OP posts:
2ddandabump · 31/03/2021 22:08

@nimbuscloud

It is excessive. He is well above the weekly recommended levels. How do your evenings look? Does he do his share with the toddler?
He does help yes and no. He's best when he comes in and I feel deteriorates the more he drinks, say if he has 3 beers before we've eaten tea. I guess I feel irritated that he's falling asleep around 8:30/9pm on the sofa, possibly due to drinking, possibly due to doing a physically demanding job? Whilst I'm still sorting out the older ones (12&10) who go to bed later, doing lunches, packing nursery bags etc... I'm knackered as well and would love to fall asleep on the sofa!
OP posts:
Laiste · 31/03/2021 21:47

Our electrician ALWAYS smells of fresh alcohol. No matter what time he comes round (house build). God knows how he knows which wire's which sometimes - but he is good

Laiste · 31/03/2021 21:46

Brickie DH. Drinks 3 small Katie's (cider) on a Sat night and once in a blue moon might have one on a friday. Doesn't go near a pub from month to month.

His partner? Shit loads of alcohol every night. Plus weed. On site. So much so that his work is getting worse and worse. Don't know what to do about him.

BrownEyedGirl80 · 31/03/2021 21:42

Dh is on building sites all day.He drinks a bottle of red on a Friday usually but with it being a 4 day easter weekend he'll have a good drink probably 3 of those 4 nights.He works hard but doesn't like to be foggy headed for work as he gets up at 5.30am