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Worried girlfriend has alcohol problem

38 replies

Ballymolly · 26/08/2024 00:03

BIL (30) has been seeing his partner (28) for about a year and we're concerned she has an alcohol problem. She's one of those people who has what I would call a wine personality. Everything's about getting on the wine and she's constantly sort of bragging about how much she drinks?

Anyway, over the summer she's started meeting extended family and came to a few family gatherings (a milestone birthday, a wedding, charity fundraiser, and a BBQ) where she's drunk 2/3+ bottles of wine to herself, got pretty smashed, and behaved really obnoxiously towards DP's lovely, welcoming family. (For context she doesn't really know the family yet, has only met us all a handful of times). She's also a teacher and this weekend she drunkenly told me she sometimes has a mug of wine in the afternoons in class with her TA.

BIL seems oblivious to it though and seems to think she's just having fun. He told us she has a stressful job and it's how she unwinds, but that's obvs not great. Should we press the fact we're a bit concerned about her? And maybe she needs to reign things in a bit? Or just leave it? I think her parents are big drinkers and are probably oblivious, and seems her mates are mostly a group of her old uni sports team friends, who of course, stereotypically, sound pretty boozy. DP is pretty upset at the way she's spoken to us and his parents, and thinks the girlfriend should at least know it's not really acceptable.

OP posts:
SleepPrettyDarling · 26/08/2024 00:45

Park the school story as a bit of braggadocio. Her behaviour at your family gathering is completely unacceptable. Don’t get drawn into commenting on what you don’t see; limit your comments to what you see firsthand. Your DP (BIL is his brother, yes?) needs to advocate for his parents, himself and you if she’s being obnoxious.

Ballymolly · 26/08/2024 00:44

TheClawDecides · 26/08/2024 00:41

Wine stinks to high heavens on the breath, as does most alcohol, particularly in 'alcohol free' places.

I think she's full of shit to claim her and a TA were drinking in class.

Part of me wonders if she's trying hard to make herself seem 'edgy' because I think that's what impresses the people she hangs out with.

Honestly who knows.

OP posts:
Ballymolly · 26/08/2024 00:42

Just to clarify, I'm not getting involved at all. We were just debating whether he should say something to his brother, and what exactly.

His brother has form for chaotic girlfriends, and after his last relationship broke down very dramatically, he asked us to be up front if we had concerns about his future relationships.

OP posts:
TheClawDecides · 26/08/2024 00:41

Wine stinks to high heavens on the breath, as does most alcohol, particularly in 'alcohol free' places.

I think she's full of shit to claim her and a TA were drinking in class.

LouH5 · 26/08/2024 00:38

She sounds hectic!

I don’t think there’s too much you can really do, an open chat about it between your husband and his brother just to subtly let him know you have both clocked it and have your concerns, but not sure what else you can do.

The wine out of a mug in the classroom thing introduces me. Do you think they did it once for a laugh in the run up to summer hols or Christmas, or maybe at the end of an ofsted visit perhaps? But she’s trying to show off and look “cool/clever” by making it out like it’s something they do regularly?

TwinklyNight · 26/08/2024 00:33

It may be best to not invite her to any events where alcohol is freely available. I would keep out of it but think your dh is right to talk to his brother about her drinking.

Round3HereWeGo · 26/08/2024 00:24

Stay well out of it and leave DH to do what he thinks is best but be prepared for the fall out

Ballymolly · 26/08/2024 00:21

That's what I said to DP @CorWotcha - the behaviour will become too much for BIL eventually and it will fizzle out quite soon I suspect.

OP posts:
Ballymolly · 26/08/2024 00:19

At least 3 bottles of wine pretty much to herself throughout a 9ish hour wedding day. BIL had work the next day and said he only had 2 glasses all day from the same bottles. They were laughing about it the next morning, but i think that's ludicrous.

OP posts:
CorWotcha · 26/08/2024 00:15

WTAF — 2-3 bottles of wine to herself?

Anyway, sounds like she has an alcohol problem. But not sure there is much you can do about it. Perhaps encourage DH to keep the lines of communication open with BIL and depending on their relationship raise his concerns / point out what an absolute liability she is.

Best case scenario they break up soon. I think the worrying thing is that he’s not put off by this behaviour (yet?). But it sounds like she will likely destroy the relationship herself with her inappropriate behaviour.

cupcaske123 · 26/08/2024 00:11

Most people would be completely legless on more than three bottles of wine OP. You're either exaggerating or she's an extremely heavy drinker to have built up that kind of tolerance. I find it difficult to believe that she's drinking at work.

Irrespective, I wouldn't say anything.

Seaweed42 · 26/08/2024 00:10

I guess it'll tell its own story.
Your DH can discuss it with his brother or not as he wishes.
I'd advise you stay out of it.

TheClawDecides · 26/08/2024 00:07

She's also a teacher and this weekend she drunkenly told me she sometimes has a mug of wine in the afternoons in class with her TA.

Oh do me a favour! 🤣🤣

Teachers and TAs drinking mugs of wine in class, really?

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